A new
approach for an optical actuator system based on mixed ionic–electronic
conductor materials is proposed. The system actuates on light propagating
in a waveguide implemented on a photonic integrated circuit by electrochemically
changing the composition of the MIEC material, using the characteristic
dependence of the optical properties upon stoichiometry. To realize
this actuator, a multilayer stack was sputtered and characterized
forming a battery-like system where ions reversibly travel from a
Li-ion source to a Li
x
V2O5 layer, producing the desired change of the optical properties.
Modal field FEM simulations were carried out to estimate the influence
of the formed actuator on a waveguide fundamental mode implemented
on the silicon on insulator platform. The time resolution of the actuator
is estimated solving the diffusion profile of Li inside the Li
x
V2O5 coating and its
evolution with time. Through simulations and measurements, promising
results for a potential actuator system are shown, like small device
length (<20 μm), low power consumption (∼10 pW per
switch), reversibility, and long time stability.