From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems

Paolo Franceschini; William Jaffray; Virginia Maria Demartis; Domenico de Ceglia; Luca Carletti; Evgenii Menshikov; Ivano Alessandri; Alfonso Carmelo Cino; Michael Scalora; Costantino De Angelis; Fabrizio Torricelli; Marcello Ferrera; Maria Antonietta Vincenti

doi:10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems

Paolo Franceschini, William Jaffray, Virginia Maria Demartis, Domenico de Ceglia, Luca Carletti, Evgenii Menshikov, Ivano Alessandri, Alfonso Carmelo Cino, Michael Scalora, Costantino De Angelis, Fabrizio Torricelli, Marcello Ferrera, Maria Antonietta Vincenti

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Organic conducting polymers, particularly poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), are emerging as versatile candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications due to their mechanical flexibility, ease of fabrication, and tunable optoelectronic properties. This work explores two significant innovations using PEDOT:PSS: i) the development of ionically tunable gradient-index (GRIN) materials through electrochemical modulation and ii) the characterization of their sub-picosecond nonlinear optical response. The ion-injection process allows for dynamic, reversible tuning of the polymer’s refractive index, enabling adaptive optical components such as beam steerers and optical interconnects. Additionally, the films exhibit ultrafast nonlinear behavior, with a nonlinear susceptibility significantly higher than traditional transparent conducting oxides, making them ideal for low-power, high-speed photonic applications. These findings position PEDOT:PSS as a promising platform for integrated, multifunctional photonic devices.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON)
Publisher	IEEE
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331597771
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017
Publication status	Published - 25 Aug 2025
Event	25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks 2025 - Barcelona, Spain Duration: 6 Jul 2025 → 10 Jul 2025

Conference

Conference	25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks 2025
Abbreviated title	ICTON 2025
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Barcelona
Period	6/07/25 → 10/07/25

Keywords

graded index medium
nonlinear optics
optical modulation
organic polymers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Computer Networks and Communications
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

Cite this

Franceschini, P., Jaffray, W., Demartis, V. M., de Ceglia, D., Carletti, L., Menshikov, E., Alessandri, I., Cino, A. C., Scalora, M., Angelis, C. D., Torricelli, F., Ferrera, M., & Vincenti, M. A. (2025). From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems. In 25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON) Article 11125017 IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

@inproceedings{a703e935f60743d9a4712c996c42120e,

title = "From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems",

abstract = "Organic conducting polymers, particularly poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), are emerging as versatile candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications due to their mechanical flexibility, ease of fabrication, and tunable optoelectronic properties. This work explores two significant innovations using PEDOT:PSS: i) the development of ionically tunable gradient-index (GRIN) materials through electrochemical modulation and ii) the characterization of their sub-picosecond nonlinear optical response. The ion-injection process allows for dynamic, reversible tuning of the polymer{\textquoteright}s refractive index, enabling adaptive optical components such as beam steerers and optical interconnects. Additionally, the films exhibit ultrafast nonlinear behavior, with a nonlinear susceptibility significantly higher than traditional transparent conducting oxides, making them ideal for low-power, high-speed photonic applications. These findings position PEDOT:PSS as a promising platform for integrated, multifunctional photonic devices.",

keywords = "graded index medium, nonlinear optics, optical modulation, organic polymers",

author = "Paolo Franceschini and William Jaffray and Demartis, \{Virginia Maria\} and \{de Ceglia\}, Domenico and Luca Carletti and Evgenii Menshikov and Ivano Alessandri and Cino, \{Alfonso Carmelo\} and Michael Scalora and Angelis, \{Costantino De\} and Fabrizio Torricelli and Marcello Ferrera and Vincenti, \{Maria Antonietta\}",

year = "2025",

month = aug,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017",

language = "English",

booktitle = "25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON)",

publisher = "IEEE",

address = "United States",

note = "25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks 2025, ICTON 2025 ; Conference date: 06-07-2025 Through 10-07-2025",

}

Franceschini, P, Jaffray, W, Demartis, VM, de Ceglia, D, Carletti, L, Menshikov, E, Alessandri, I, Cino, AC, Scalora, M, Angelis, CD, Torricelli, F, Ferrera, M & Vincenti, MA 2025, From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems. in 25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON)., 11125017, IEEE, 25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks 2025, Barcelona, Spain, 6/07/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

TY - GEN

T1 - From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems

AU - Franceschini, Paolo

AU - Jaffray, William

AU - Demartis, Virginia Maria

AU - de Ceglia, Domenico

AU - Carletti, Luca

AU - Menshikov, Evgenii

AU - Alessandri, Ivano

AU - Cino, Alfonso Carmelo

AU - Scalora, Michael

AU - Angelis, Costantino De

AU - Torricelli, Fabrizio

AU - Ferrera, Marcello

AU - Vincenti, Maria Antonietta

PY - 2025/8/25

Y1 - 2025/8/25

N2 - Organic conducting polymers, particularly poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), are emerging as versatile candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications due to their mechanical flexibility, ease of fabrication, and tunable optoelectronic properties. This work explores two significant innovations using PEDOT:PSS: i) the development of ionically tunable gradient-index (GRIN) materials through electrochemical modulation and ii) the characterization of their sub-picosecond nonlinear optical response. The ion-injection process allows for dynamic, reversible tuning of the polymer’s refractive index, enabling adaptive optical components such as beam steerers and optical interconnects. Additionally, the films exhibit ultrafast nonlinear behavior, with a nonlinear susceptibility significantly higher than traditional transparent conducting oxides, making them ideal for low-power, high-speed photonic applications. These findings position PEDOT:PSS as a promising platform for integrated, multifunctional photonic devices.

AB - Organic conducting polymers, particularly poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), are emerging as versatile candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications due to their mechanical flexibility, ease of fabrication, and tunable optoelectronic properties. This work explores two significant innovations using PEDOT:PSS: i) the development of ionically tunable gradient-index (GRIN) materials through electrochemical modulation and ii) the characterization of their sub-picosecond nonlinear optical response. The ion-injection process allows for dynamic, reversible tuning of the polymer’s refractive index, enabling adaptive optical components such as beam steerers and optical interconnects. Additionally, the films exhibit ultrafast nonlinear behavior, with a nonlinear susceptibility significantly higher than traditional transparent conducting oxides, making them ideal for low-power, high-speed photonic applications. These findings position PEDOT:PSS as a promising platform for integrated, multifunctional photonic devices.

KW - graded index medium

KW - nonlinear optics

KW - optical modulation

KW - organic polymers

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016176110

U2 - 10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

DO - 10.1109/icton67126.2025.11125017

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - 25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON)

PB - IEEE

T2 - 25th Anniversary International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks 2025

Y2 - 6 July 2025 through 10 July 2025

ER -

From Gradient Index to Nonlinear Effects: Tailored Optics in Organic Polymer Systems

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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