HIGH REFRACTIVE INDEX OPTICAL DEVICE FORMED BASED ON SOLID CRYSTAL AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF
A method is provided. The method includes providing an alignment structure at least partially defining a predetermined alignment pattern. The method also includes forming a solid crystal on the alignment structure. Crystal molecules of the solid crystal are aligned in the predetermined alignment pattern.
1 . A method, comprising:
providing an alignment structure at least partially defining a predetermined alignment pattern; and
forming a solid crystal on the alignment structure, crystal molecules of the solid crystal being aligned in the predetermined alignment pattern.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the solid crystal on the alignment structure comprises growing the solid crystal on the alignment structure.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the solid crystal on the alignment structure is performed using at least one of the following processes:
a vapor deposition including at least one of an organic crystal molecule beam epitaxy, or a hot wall epitaxy of organic crystal molecules;
a solvent assisted deposition via a thermal alignment, a mold alignment, or a surface alignment;
a polymer assisted continuous casting;
a temperature assisted zone annealing;
a physical vapor transport;
a spin coating; or
a crystal growth process based on a molten crystal material.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the alignment structure comprises at least one of:
forming a photoalignment layer on a substrate by processing a photosensitive material with a light;
forming a mechanically rubbed alignment layer on the substrate;
forming an alignment layer with anisotropic nanoimprints on the substrate;
forming an anisotropic relief directly on the substrate through wet or dry etching;
forming the alignment structure on the substrate based on a ferroelectric or ferromagnetic material deposited on the substrate;
providing a crystalline layer or a crystalline substrate as the alignment structure that defines the predetermined alignment pattern; or
forming the alignment structure on the substrate by crystallization in the presence of a magnetic or electric field.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment structure is a first alignment structure, the predetermined alignment pattern is a first predetermined alignment pattern, the solid crystal is a first solid crystal, the crystal molecules are first crystal molecules, and the method further comprises:
providing a second alignment structure on the first solid crystal, the second alignment structure at least partially defining a second predetermined alignment pattern; and
forming a second solid crystal on the second alignment structure, second crystal molecules of the second solid crystal being aligned in the second predetermined alignment pattern.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid crystal is optically anisotropic with a principal refractive index of at least about 1.5 and an optical anisotropy of at least about 0.1, the principal refractive index of the solid crystal being a refractive index in a direction parallel to an axis of the solid crystal, and the axis of the solid crystal being an axis along which the solid crystal has a highest refractive index.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid crystal is optically anisotropic with a principal refractive index in a range of 1.6-2.6 and an optical anisotropy of at least about 0.1, the principal refractive index of the solid crystal being a refractive index in a direction parallel to an axis of the solid crystal, and the axis of the solid crystal being an axis along which the solid crystal has a highest refractive index.
8 . A method, comprising:
generating a solid crystal vapor in a chamber based on a source material;
transporting the solid crystal vapor within the chamber to deposit onto an alignment structure to form a solid crystal material layer; and
crystallizing the solid crystal material layer to form a solid crystal layer.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling an amount of a solvent vapor or a non-solvent vapor introduced into the chamber.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
after the solid crystal vapor deposits onto the alignment structure, removing at least one of the solvent vapor or the non-solvent vapor.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the solid crystal vapor comprises subliming the source material under heat or vacuum to generate the solid crystal vapor.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling an amount of at least one of a non-solvent vapor or a solvent vapor in the chamber.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the amount of at least one of the non-solvent vapor or the solvent vapor comprises controlling the amount of the non-solvent vapor to control at least one of a concentration of the solid crystal vapor in the chamber, a transportation speed, or solidification kinetics to control a nucleation and crystal growth rate associated with the solid crystal layer.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the amount of at least one of the non-solvent vapor or the solvent vapor comprises controlling the amount of the solvent vapor to selectively remove defects from the solid crystal layer.
15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the source material comprises a solid crystal material.
16 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a buffer crystalline layer on the alignment structure to reduce strain between the solid crystal layer and the alignment structure.
17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the alignment structure comprises a plurality of microstructures defining a plurality of grooves with orientations varying in at least one in-plane direction, and the method further comprises providing a surface modification layer between the microstructures and the solid crystal layer.
18 . A method, comprising:
providing a molten crystal material in contact with an alignment structure; and
producing a solid crystal based on the molten crystal material, wherein the solid crystal includes crystal molecules that are aligned in a predetermined alignment pattern at least partially defined by the alignment structure.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein producing the solid crystal comprises cooling the molten crystal material.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein producing the solid crystal comprises:
growing the solid crystal based on the molten crystal material by moving a seed crystal away from a die,
wherein the die includes at least one capillary at least partially configured to allow the molten crystal material to flow therethrough during the growth of the solid crystal,
wherein the die includes a surface having a predetermined shape and having the alignment structure, and
wherein the solid crystal grows along the surface of the die according to the alignment structure.