A Versatile Materials Class for Solution‐Processed Optics and Photonics Based On Titanium Oxide Hydrates and Polyalcohols: A Perspective

Journal article

The ability to propagate light within a structure comprising a controlled spatial distribution of the refractive index n prompted the telecommunications revolution of the 20th century. More recently, progress with exploiting the flow of light has led to a broad range of light‐ and heat‐management tools, as well as novel quantum devices. This perspective discusses a new versatile class of optical materials based on molecular hybrids of metal oxide hydrates and commodity polymers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol). These fascinating, easy‐to‐produce materials are examined, and their processing into useful architectures such as photonic crystals is reviewed, with a focus on thin‐film optics. Their potential in other areas is also assessed, for instance, for the fabrication of optical microcavities that allow the formation of exciton‐polaritons, enabling studies on strong light‐matter interactions. Generally, these molecular hybrids open future opportunities in applications like optics, photonics, quantum devices, catalysis, and beyond.

Authors: Quirós‐Cordero, V; Balzer, AH; Bachevillier, S; Watkins, N; Ferreira, AF

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Advanced Materials
• Article number: e07028
• Publication date: 2025-10-23
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202507028
• EISSN: 1521-4095
• ISSN: 0935-9648
• Language: English
• Keywords: inorganic‐organic hybrid materials; optical microcavities; metal oxide hydrates; diffraction gratings; exciton‐polaritons; heat mirrors; distributed Bragg reflectors; high refractive index polymers