Dynamically actuated soft heliconical architecture via frequency of electric fields

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 2712 - 10
• Main Authors: Liu, Binghui, Yuan, Cong-Long, Hu, Hong-Long, Wang, Hao, Zhu, Yu-Wen, Sun, Pei-Zhi, Li, Zhi-Ying, Zheng, Zhi-Gang, Li, Quan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17.05.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/923/919; 639/624/399/919; 639/925/357/537; Adaptive systems; Algorithms; Coders; Coupling (molecular); Dynamic range; Electric fields; Frequency dependence; Heating; Humanities and Social Sciences; Information processing; Modulation; multidisciplinary; Photonic band gaps; Photonics; Prototypes; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Temperature effects
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30486-2

Dynamic electric field frequency actuated helical and spiral structures enable a plethora of attributes for advanced photonics and engineering in the contemporary era. Nevertheless, leveraging the frequency responsiveness of adaptive devices and systems within a broad dynamic range and maintaining restrained high-frequency induced heating remain challenging. Herein, we establish a frequency-actuated heliconical soft architecture that is quite distinct from that of common frequency-responsive soft materials. We achieve reversible modulation of the photonic bandgap in a wide spectral range by delicately coupling the frequency-dependent thermal effect, field-induced dielectric torque and elastic equilibrium. Furthermore, an information encoder prototype without the aid of complicated algorithm design is established to analogize an information encoding and decoding process with a more convenient and less costly way. A technique for taming and tailoring the distribution of the pitch length is exploited and embodied in a prototype of a spatially controlled soft photonic cavity and laser emission. This work demonstrates a distinct frequency responsiveness in a heliconical soft system, which may not merely inspire the interest in field-assisted bottom-up molecular engineering of soft matter but also facilitate the practicality of adaptive photonics. Frequency responsiveness within a broad dynamic range in adaptive systems while also reducing high-frequency induced heating remains a challenge for advanced photonics. Here, authors report a frequency-actuated heliconical soft architecture with reversible modulation of the photonic bandgap in a wide spectral range.