Jineun Kim

Polypyrrole/Agarose-based electronically conductive and reversibly restorable hydrogel.

Conductive hydrogels are a class of composite materials that consist of hydrated and conducting polymers. Due to the mechanical similarity to biointerfaces such as human skin, conductive hydrogels have been primarily utilized as bioelectrodes, specifically neuroprosthetic electrodes, in an attempt to replace metallic electrodes by enhancing the mechanical properties and long-term stability of the electrodes within living organisms. Here, we report a conductive, smart hydrogel, which is thermoplastic and self-healing owing to its unique properties of reversible liquefaction and gelation in response to thermal stimuli. In addition, we demonstrated that our conductive hydrogel could be utilized to fabricate bendable, stretchable, and patternable electrodes directly on human skin. The excellent mechanical and thermal properties of our hydrogel make it potentially useful in a variety of biomedical applications such as electronic skin.

Optical magnetic field mapping using a subwavelength aperture.

Local distribution of the optical magnetic field is a critical parameter in developing materials with artificially engineered optical properties. Optical magnetic field characterization in nano-scale remains a challenge, because of the weak matter-optical magnetic field interactions. Here, we demonstrate an experimental visualization of the optical magnetic field profiles by raster scanning circular apertures in metal film or in a conical probe. Optical magnetic fields of surface plasmon polaritons and radially polarized beam are visualized by measuring the transmission through metallic apertures, in excellent agreements with theoretical predictions. Our results show that Bethe-Bouwkamp aperture can be used in visualizing optical magnetic field profiles.

Babinet-inverted optical Yagi-Uda antenna for unidirectional radiation to free space.

Nanophotonics capable of directing radiation or enhancing quantum-emitter transition rates rely on plasmonic nanoantennas. We present here a novel Babinet-inverted magnetic-dipole-fed multislot optical Yagi-Uda antenna that exhibits highly unidirectional radiation to free space, achieved by engineering the relative phase of the interacting surface plasmon polaritons between the slot elements. The unique features of this nanoantenna can be harnessed for realizing energy transfer from one waveguide to another by working as a future optical via.

Autoantibodies to glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase are elevated in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective: This study investigated whether anti‐glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase (GPI) antibody in the synovial fluid is specifically related to human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Synovial fluid was collected from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), gout, Behcets disease, or ankylosing spondylitis. GPI‐binding activity was measured in the synovial fluid using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. Results: The mean level of anti‐GPI signal in the synovial fluid of RA patients was significantly elevated compared with that of OA patients (2.84±1.41u2005AU versus 1.19±0.42u2005AU, respectively; p<0.0001). Anti‐GPI signals in the synovial fluids of patients with non‐rheumatoid arthritis, such as gout, Behcets disease, or ankylosing spondylitis were significantly lower than in the synovial fluid of RA patients (p<0.005), and were similar to those of OA patients. Conclusion: Our study indicates that anti‐GPI antibody in the synovial fluid is specifically related to RA, and suggests that GPI and its autoantibody might be important in the pathogenesis of human RA.

Nanoscale patterning of colloidal quantum dots on transparent and metallic planar surfaces.

The patterning of colloidal quantum dots with nanometer resolution is essential for their application in photonics and plasmonics. Several patterning approaches, such as the use of polymer composites, molecular lock-and-key methods, inkjet printing and microcontact printing of quantum dots have been recently developed. Herein, we present a simple method of patterning colloidal quantum dots for photonic nanostructures such as straight lines, rings and dot patterns either on transparent or metallic substrates. Sub-10 nm width of the patterned line could be achieved with a well-defined sidewall profile. Using this method, we demonstrate a surface plasmon launcher from a quantum dot cluster in the visible spectrum.

Radiation direction control by optical slot antenna integrated with plasmonic waveguide

We present an optical slot antenna integrated with a metal-dielectric-metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguide. By integrating optical slot antenna on top metal layer of MIM waveguide, we can couple the plasmon guide mode into the feed antenna directly. The resonantly excited slot antenna works as a magnetic dipole and then radiates in dipole-like far-field pattern. By adding an auxiliary groove structure along with the slot antenna, the radiation can be directed into the direction where the structure determined. The demonstrated optical slot antenna integrated with a plasmonic waveguide can be used as a “plasmonic via” in plasmonic nanocircuits.

Metasurface electrode light emitting diodes with planar light control

The ability of metasurfaces to manipulate light at the subwavelength scale offers unprecedented functionalities for passive and active lasing devices. However, applications of metasurfaces to optical devices are rare due to fabrication difficulties. Here, we present quantum dot light emitting diodes (QDLEDs) with a metasurface-integrated metal electrode and demonstrate microscopically controlled LED emission. By incorporating slot-groove antennas into the metal electrode, we show that LED emission from randomly polarized QD sources can be polarized and directed at will. Utilizing the relation between polarization and emission direction, we also demonstrate microscopic LED beam splitting through the selective choice of polarization.

Nanoscale patterning of colloidal quantum dots for surface plasmon generation

The patterning of colloidal quantum dots with nanometer resolution is essential for their application in photonics and plasmonics. Several patterning approaches, such as the use of polymer composites, molecular lock-and-key methods, inkjet printing, and microcontact printing of quantum dots, have limits in fabrication resolution, positioning and the variation of structural shapes. Herein, we present an adaptation of a conventional liftoff method for patterning colloidal quantum dots. This simple method is easy and requires no complicated processes. Using this method, we formed straight lines, rings, and dot patterns of colloidal quantum dots on metallic substrates. Notably, patterned lines approximately 10 nm wide were fabricated. The patterned structures display high resolution, accurate positioning, and well-defined sidewall profiles. To demonstrate the applicability of our method, we present a surface plasmon generator elaborated from quantum dots.

Optical slot antenna and its application

We present an optical slot antenna and its application. By measuring transmission spectra and far-field radiation pattern of metallic slots with nanometer scale, we show that a metallic nanoslot has the properties of an antenna, which are resonance, polarization, and bidirectional far-field radiation pattern, and can be regarded as a magnetic dipole in optical region. Additionally, we also make the unidirectional radiation by adapting the geometry of RF Yagi-Uda antenna and applying slot antenna. By the aid of phase analysis based on 3-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation, we can increase the front-to-back ratio of an optical slot Yagi-Uda antenna up to about 5. As the application of a slot antenna, we integrate a metal-insulator-metal plasmonic waveguide with a slot antenna. A surface plasmon waveguide mode propagating in MIM structure is well-coupled to a slot antenna and radiates into free-space in form of dipole radiation. By adding an auxiliary structure that has the role of reflector as like a slot Yagi-Uda antenna, the direction of radiation from a slot antenna integrated with a plasmonic waveguide can be controlled efficiently. Besides the possibility of integration with a waveguide, we expect that a slot antenna can be applied to active devices such as light emitting diodes or lasers for the future.

Detection-gap-independent optical sensor design using divergence-beam-controlled slit lasers for wearable devices

Wearable devices often employ optical sensors, such as photoplethysmography sensors, for detecting heart rates or other biochemical factors. Pulse waveforms, rather than simply detecting heartbeats, can clarify arterial conditions. However, most optical sensor designs require close skin contact to reduce power consumption while obtaining good quality signals without distortion. We have designed a detection-gap-independent optical sensor array using divergence-beam-controlled slit lasers and distributed photodiodes in a pulse-detection device wearable over the wrist’s radial artery. It achieves high biosignal quality and low power consumption. The top surface of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser of 850 nm wavelength was covered by Au film with an open slit of width between 500 nm and 1500 nm, which generated laser emissions across a large divergence angle along an axis orthogonal to the slit direction. The sensing coverage of the slit laser diode (LD) marks a 50% improvement over nonslit LD sensor coverage. The slit LD sensor consumes 100% more input power than the nonslit LD sensor to obtain similar optical output power. The slit laser sensor showed intermediate performance between LD and light-emitting diode sensors. Thus, designing sensors with multiple-slit LD arrays can provide useful and convenient ways for incorporating optical sensors in wrist-wearable devices.