Orientation of LiIO3Nanocrystals in Laponite Matrix for Periodically Structured Non-Linear Waveguides

A new clay-based nanocomposite has been developed for non-linear optical waveguiding applications. Thin layers are deposited on glass substrates by using dip coating technique from an aqueous solution made of a Laponite suspension mixed with a lithium iodate (LiIO3) aqueous solution. Transparent layers with waveguiding properties are obtained with an effective non-linear coefficient of about 1.4 pm/V for a 55% vol. LiIO3 composite. Control of nanocrystals orientation has been performed by applying an electric field with Corona discharge or deposited gold electrodes. Characterisation of nanocrystals orientation was done by Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) measurements and polarised light optical microscopy.