Publications by authors named "Nithin T James"
Switchable 3D Photonic Crystals Based on the Insulator-to-Metal Transition in VO.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Photonic crystals (PhCs) are optical structures that manipulate light by creating a photonic band gap (PBG) through their dielectric properties, traditionally fixed and static.
- Recent advancements target switchable PhCs, especially using vanadium dioxide (VO), which changes its state and optical properties near room temperature, allowing for a reversible adjustment of the PBG.
- This research introduces a fabrication method for 3D switchable VO photonic crystals, demonstrating significant control over PBG at specific wavelengths in the near-infrared region, paving the way for versatile photonic devices that can adapt their functionalities.
Article Synopsis
- - The study explores the use of titanium dioxide (TiO) combined with iron(III) oxide (FeO) in creating 3D inverse opal (IO) structures to improve the efficiency of solar-driven photocatalysis for water pollution reduction.
- - By engineering semiconductor heterojunctions and utilizing the slow photon effect, the researchers demonstrated that adding FeO enhances the photocatalytic activity of TiO, achieving a maximum photocatalytic rate constant with specific layer thicknesses.
- - The work emphasizes the significance of careful nanostructuring and heterojunction formation in optimizing photocatalytic properties, making TiO-FeO IOs promising candidates for effective pollution control.