Secured patent enables greatly improved performance for plasmonic electro-optic devices 

Seattle, WA, April 25, 2023 — NLM Photonics, a technology company leveraging its proprietary organic electro-optic (OEO) materials to transmit data at higher bandwidths with less power, and CoMotion at the University of Washington (UW) announce the awarding of a U.S. patent for a new material. Known as BAH13, this chromophore paves the way for increased performance in plasmonic-organic hybrid photonic devices. It delivers more EO activity than any material before, breaking records with high electro-optic activity of greater than 1,000 pm/V alongside in-device modulation efficiency of 48 V-μm. 

This patent – entitled “Organic Electro-Optic Chromophores” under patent number 11634429, issue date 04/23/2023 – details the creation of BAH13 and related high-performance chromophores by scientists at the University of Washington, working in the labs of Professors Bruce Robinson and Larry Dalton, and NLM Photonics. The discovery of the BAH13 chromophore and associated performance records were initially published in the scientific journal Materials Horizons in 2021: doi.org/10.1039/D1MH01206A. The U.S. patent was awarded to the University of Washington and is exclusively licensed to NLM Photonics via CoMotion, UW’s collaborative innovation hub.

Dr. Lewis E. Johnson, Chief Scientific Officer at NLM Photonics, says, “This patent on one of our record-setting materials further strengthens our patent portfolio on the latest chromophores and their applications as we engage with foundries and partners, with more to come from our research pipeline.”

BAH13 and its derivatives — along with nanophotonic hybrid modulators — offer a clear advantage to manufacturers and foundries wishing for the highest performance in the smallest packages. 

About NLM Photonics 

NLM Photonics develops cutting-edge photonics solutions for transforming networking, computing, and sensing alongside our global partners and is based in Seattle and Paris. Follow us at nlmphotonics.com and on LinkedIn @nlm-photonics. 

About CoMotion at the University of Washington  

CoMotion partners with the UW community on their innovation journey, providing tools, connections, and acumen to transform ideas into economic and societal impact. Find more information at comotion.uw.edu. 

Media Contact: 

Erica McGillivray 
Communication Director 
[email protected]