Search
Menu

Multimodal Solution Points to Broader Adoption of Metamaterials

Facebook X LinkedIn Email
Metamaterials, artificial nanostructures that manipulate light, are costly and technologically challenging to fabricate. The broad, practical use of metamaterials depends on lowering their manufacturing cost and making them easier to create.

Metamaterials traditionally have been made by depositing physical and chemical layers onto materials such as silicon and resin and following up the deposition process with lithography. This method is expensive and can be used only with certain materials. Consequently, the focus has shifted to creating metamaterials through the assembly of particles, rather than through the costly process of surface shaving.
Researchers at POSTECH developed a method for 3D co-assembly of freestanding and freeform metamaterials using micropipette tips showcasing scattering reduction. The method surpasses limitations of existing metamaterial fabrication processes by enabling design and implementation of freeform nanophotons. Courtesy of POSTECH.
Researchers at POSTECH developed a method for 3D co-assembly of freestanding and freeform metamaterials using micropipette tips showcasing scattering reduction. The method surpasses limitations of existing metamaterial fabrication processes by enabling design and implementation of freeform nanophotons. Courtesy of POSTECH.

To enable the cost-effective production of metamaterials in the desired shapes, a research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) devised a solution-based 3D-printing process technology. The POSTECH team’s approach could significantly expand the range of materials used to make metamaterials, allowing for the unrestricted design of nanophotonic structures.

The researchers shaped freeform, freestanding raspberry-like metamolecule (RMM) fibers in 3D by combining the evaporative co-assembly of silica nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles with 3D nanoprinting. First, they made the RMMs using silica and gold nanoparticles of varying sizes. Then, they stacked the RMMs on top of each other to create millimeter-size metamaterials.


The researchers conducted experiments to show the light-controlling capabilities of the metamaterials that were formed by combining co-assembly techniques with 3D printing. They investigated the influence of the electric and magnetic dipole modes on the directional scattering of the RMM fibers, and demonstrated the ability to decrease the scattering of the millimeter-scale RMM fiber in the visible spectrum.

The experiments showed that the magnetic response of an individual RMM can be controlled by adjusting the filling factor of the gold nanoparticles. The researchers were able to fine-tune the optical properties of the metamaterial by adjusting the ratio of silica and gold nanoparticles within the material.

The team’s investigation of metamaterial production marks the first time that the optical properties of metamolecules have been verified in solution using millimeter-size RMM structures. The researchers’ approach allows results to be observed with the naked eye or through a simple microscope setup, eliminating the need for specialized equipment for verification.

The new approach to making metamaterials could help resolve the challenges of fabricating freestanding metamolecule clusters with programmed geometries and multiple compositions, moving metamaterials a step closer to becoming commercially available.

“This breakthrough enables the design and implementation of freeform nanophotons, surpassing the limitations of existing metamaterial fabrication processes,” professor Junsuk Rho, who led the research, said. “The versatility of this technology affords a wide range of material choices including quantum dots, catalyst particles, and polymers, making it applicable to diverse fields, from sensors to displays, in addition to metamaterial research.”

The research was published in Small (www.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202303749).

Published: November 2023
Glossary
optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light and its interactions with different materials. The term "optoelectronics" is a combination of "optics" and "electronics," reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of this field. Optoelectronic devices convert electrical signals into optical signals or vice versa, making them crucial in various technologies. Some key components and applications of optoelectronics include: ...
freeform optics
Freeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes, such as spheres or aspheres. Unlike standard optical components with symmetric and rotationally invariant surfaces, freeform optics feature non-rotationally symmetric and often complex surfaces. These surfaces can be tailored to meet specific optical requirements, offering greater flexibility in designing optical systems and achieving improved performance. Key points about...
nano
An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light. It involves the study and manipulation of light using nanoscale structures and materials, often at dimensions comparable to or smaller than the wavelength of the light being manipulated. Aspects and applications of nanophotonics include: Nanoscale optical components: Nanophotonics involves the design and fabrication of...
optical materials
Optical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the fabrication of optical components and systems. These materials are characterized by their ability to interact with light in a controlled manner, enabling applications such as transmission, reflection, refraction, absorption, and emission of light. Optical materials play a crucial role in the design and performance of optical systems across various industries, including...
3d printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer from a digital model. This technology allows the creation of complex and customized structures that would be challenging or impossible with traditional manufacturing methods. The process typically involves the following key steps: Digital design: A three-dimensional digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This...
Research & TechnologyeducationAsia-PacificPohang University of Science and TechnologyMaterialsmaterials processingOpticsoptoelectronicsfreeform opticsnanoindustrialnanophotonicsoptical materials3d printingnanoprintinglight-matter interactionraspberry-like metamoleculesRMMTechnology News

We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.