A new method for obtaining transparent electrodes

Opt Express. 2012 Sep 24;20(20):22770-82. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.022770.

Abstract

In this article, we propose a simple scheme to make a metallic film on a semi-infinite substrate optically transparent, thus obtaining a completely transparent electrode in a desired frequency range. By placing a composite layer consisting of dielectric and metallic stripes on top of the metallic one, we found that the back-scattering from the metallic film can be almost perfectly canceled by the composite layer under certain conditions, leading to transparency of the whole structure. We performed proof-of-concept experiments in the terahertz domain to verify our theoretical predictions, using carefully designed metamaterials to mimic plasmonic metals in optical regime. Experiments are in excellent agreement with full-wave simulations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Electrodes*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Refractometry
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Terahertz Radiation