title: Dynamic Optical Gratings Accessed by Reversible Shape Memory.
abstract: Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have been shown to accurately replicate photonic structures that produce tunable optical responses, but in practice, these responses are limited by the irreversibility of conventional shape memory processes. Here, we report the intensity modulation of a diffraction grating utilizing two-way reversible shape changes. Reversible shifting of the grating height was accomplished through partial melting and recrystallization of semicrystalline poly(octylene adipate). The concurrent variations of the grating shape and diffraction intensity were monitored via atomic force microscopy and first order diffraction measurements, respectively. A maximum reversibility of the diffraction intensity of 36% was repeatable over multiple cycles. To that end, the reversible shape memory process is shown to broaden the functionality of SMP-based optical devices.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Cary A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tippets
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Qiaoxi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: §Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Yulan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: §Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Eugenii U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Donev
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Anne-Martine S
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Valerie Sheares
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Sergei S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sheiko
authors.affiliation: §Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
keywords: elastomers; photonic structures; responsive surfaces; reversible shape memory; shape memory polymers