Fabrication of transparent birefringent materials without one-dimensional ordered structure by using helical nano-silica

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15376
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 28010:Nanometer-scale chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Okazaki Yutaka 京都大学, エネルギー科学研究科, 助教 (20794465)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: キラリティ / 分子集合体 / ナノ構造構築 / 光学異方性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, we have been studied the fabrication of new transparent birefringent materials that do not require one-dimensional ordered arrangement of atoms and molecules, which has been considered essential so far. Specifically, chiral silica glasses were fabricated by isotropically dispersing and low-temperature fusing helical nanosilica with chirality (local anisotropy), and their birefringent properties were evaluated. As a result, a chiral light scattering phenomenon was confirmed. The confirmation of this phenomenon suggests that the material exhibits a difference in refractive index between the left and right circularly polarized light, i.e., circularly polarized light birefringence.

Free Research Field

ナノ構造化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「光」を情報・エネルギー源として利用することを目的とする光エレクトロニクス分野において、光の位相制御を担う透明複屈折材料は、最も重要な光学材料の一つである。本研究では、地球上で豊富に存在する珪素および酸素のみを用いて、面内方向の異方性を示さない無色透明なフィルム状ヘリカルナノシリカ成型体を作製し、900度もの高温にも耐えうる新規透明材料においてキラル光散乱現象を確認した。本研究で得られた成果は、新たな光学材料の設計に自由度を与えるものである。