We have developed a drastically new method of fabricating polymer photonic devices. Utilizing nanoimprinting and ink-jet printing, polymer photonic devices such as modulators and switches have successfully been developed. The room temperature and potentially low-cost manufacturing technology offers several unique advantages, such as 1) good surface quality, 2) etch-free process, 3) environmentally friendly, 4) large-area development, and 5) hybrid integration with printed electronics.

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Fig. 1 (a) Microscopic picture showing the top view of a fabricated 2×2 thermo-optic polymer switch.  (b) Normalized optical output power versus electrical power consumption from both bar port and cross port.
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Fig. 2 Optical response with square wave function applied across the heating electrode, at selected frequencies of (a) 100Hz, (b) 300Hz, (c) 500Hz, and (d) 1kHz.

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Fig.3 Microscope image of (a) printed EO polymer modulator, (b) ink-jet printed top electrode, scale bar: 100μm and (c) SEM picture of the modulator cross section

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Fig.4 (a-b) 100kHz triangle wave input and corresponding modulator output signal. (c-d) 15MHz sinusoidal wave input and corresponding modulator output.