An integrated electrochromic nanoplasmonic optical switch.

Abstract

We demonstrate an electrochemically driven optical switch based on absorption modulation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating in a metallic nanoslit waveguide containing nanocrystals of electrochromic Prussian Blue dye. Optical transmission modulation of ∼96% is achieved by electrochemically switching the dye between its oxidized and reduced states using voltages below 1 V. High spatial overlap and long interaction length between the SPP and the active material are achieved by preferential growth of PB nanocrystals on the nanoslit sidewalls. The resulting orthogonalization between the directions of light propagation and that of charge transport from the electrolyte to ultrathin active material inside the nanoslit waveguide offers significant promise for the realization of electrochromic devices with record switching speeds.