Detailed Experiment-Theory Comparison of Mid-Infrared Metasurface Perfect Absorbers

Lightweight Machine-Learning Model for Efficient Design of Graphene-Based Microwave Metasurfaces for Versatile Absorption Performance

Graphene, as a widely used nanomaterial, has shown great flexibility in designing optically transparent microwave metasurfaces with broadband absorption. However, the design of graphene-based microwave metasurfaces relies on cumbersome parameter sweeping as well as the expertise of researchers. In this paper, we propose a machine-learning network which enables the forward prediction of reflection spectra and inverse design of versatile microwave absorbers. Techniques such as the normalization of input and transposed convolution layers are introduced in the machine-learning network to make the model lightweight and efficient. Particularly, the tunable conductivity of graphene enables a new degree in the intelligent design of metasurfaces. The inverse design system based on the optimization method is proposed for the versatile design of microwave absorbers. Representative cases are demonstrated, showing very promising performances on satisfying various absorption requirements. The proposed machine-learning network has significant potential for the intelligent design of graphene-based metasurfaces for various microwave applications.

Metasurfaces as Energy Valves for Sustainable Energy Management

Control of light absorption and transmission by metal-insulator-metal (MIM) metasurfaces are promising for applications in optical windows. This study shows the realization of photo-thermal energy conversion for radiative cooling by MIM metasurfaces with thin metal substrate and Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO). High transparency of ITO at visible wavelengths and high absorption at mid-infrared wavelengths were realized for future applications of efficient cooling or heating applicable for living and working spaces. The MIM (ITO/CaF₂/ITO) metasurface was patterned with low-resolution photo-lithography as a demonstration of further simplification and possible scalability of the patterning for practical window applications.

Exploring the Absorption Spectra of an Ultra-Wideband Metamaterial Absorber in the Visible and Near-Infrared Regions

This paper investigates the absorption spectra of a plasmonic metamaterial absorber in the visible and near-infrared regimes by utilizing a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) functional stack. A periodic metal-dielectric cap is introduced on top of a metallic substrate to excite surface plasmon modes. The shape of this cap and the glass coating modifies the absorbance bandwidth. Although the circular cap exhibits less broadening in the absorbance than the square one, the circular cap's glass coating boosts the bandwidth's expansion in the near-infrared region to about 1.65 µm. In the visible and near-infrared regimes, absorption bandwidth and spectral ratio can be tailored by modifying four distinct structural parameters. The finding shows that one can achieve an ultra-broad bandwidth that extends from 0.3 µm to 1.65 µm at 90% absorbance. The thickness of the top titanium layer, the silicon dioxide spacer thickness, the Ti-SiO₂ cap diameter, and the sliver substrate pitch are selected to be 20 nm, 60 nm, 215 nm, and 235 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of using various metals on absorption spectra has been explored in the visible and near-infrared regimes. The d metals considered for the top layer are titanium, nickel, chromium, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, and gold.

Absorption and scattering in perfect thermal radiation absorber-emitter metasurfaces

Detailed spectral analysis of radiation absorption and scattering behaviors of metasurfaces was carried out via finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) photonic simulations. It revealed that, for typical metal-insulator-metal (MIM) nanodisc metasurfaces, absorbance and scattering cross-sections exhibit a ratio of σ_abs/σ_sca = 1 at the absorption peak spectral position. This relationship was likewise found to limit the attainable photo-thermal conversion efficiency in experimental and application contexts. By increasing the absorption due to optical materials, such as Cr metal nano-films typically used as an adhesion layer, it is possible to control the total absorption efficiency η = σ_abs/σ_sca and to make it the dominant extinction mechanism. This guided the design of MIM metasurfaces tailored for near-perfect-absorption and emission of thermal radiation. We present the fabrication as well as the numerical and experimental spectral characterisation of such optical surfaces.

Polarization-Independent Large Third-Order-Nonlinearity of Orthogonal Nanoantennas Coupled to an Epsilon-Near-Zero Material

The nonlinear optical response of common materials is limited by bandwidth and energy consumption, which impedes practical application in all-optical signal processing, light detection, harmonic generation, etc. Additionally, the nonlinear performance is typically sensitive to polarization. To circumvent this constraint, we propose that orthogonal nanoantennas coupled to Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) material show a broadband (~1000 nm bandwidth) large optical nonlinearity simultaneously for two orthogonal polarization states. The absolute maximum value of the nonlinear refractive index n₂ is 7.65 cm²∙GW⁻¹, which is 4 orders of magnitude larger than that of the bare AZO film and 7 orders of magnitude larger than that of silica. The coupled structure not only realizes polarization independence and strong nonlinearity, but also allows the sign of the nonlinear response to be flexibly tailored. It provides a promising platform for the realization of ultracompact, low-power, and highly nonlinear all-optical devices on the nanoscale.

Theoretical and Numerical Analysis of Active Switching for Narrow-Band Thermal Emission with Graphene Ribbon Metasurface

Components smaller than the wavelength of electromagnetic waves are called meta-atoms. Thermal emission can be controlled by an artificial structure in which these meta-atoms are arranged on the surface. This artificial structure is called a metasurface, and its optical properties are determined by the materials and shapes of the meta-atoms. However, optical devices may require active control of thermal emission. In the present study, we theoretically and numerically analyze a wavelength-selective emitter using a graphene ribbon metasurface. The graphene ribbon metasurface consists of a graphene ribbon array, potassium bromide thin film, and silver substrate. The geometric parameters of the graphene metasurface are determined based on an equivalent circuit model that agrees well with the results of the electromagnetic field analysis (rigorous coupled-wave analysis). The proposed emitter causes impedance matching depending on the conductivity of the graphene ribbon in a very narrow wavelength range. The conductivity of graphene can be actively controlled by the gate voltage. Therefore, the proposed emitters may realize near-perfect emission with a high quality factor and active controllable switching for various wavelengths. In addition, the quality factor can be changed by adjusting the electron mobility of graphene. The proposed emitter can be used for optical devices such as thermophotovoltaic systems and biosensing.

A Plasmonic Infrared Multiple-Channel Filter Based on Gold Composite Nanocavities Metasurface

A plasmonic near-infrared multiple-channel filter is numerically and experimentally investigated based on a gold periodic composite nanocavities metasurface. By the interference among different excited plasmonic modes on the metasurface, the multipeak extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) phenomenon is induced and utilized to realize multiple-channel filtering. Investigated from the simulated transmission spectrum of the metasurface, the positions and intensity of transmission peaks are tuned by the geometrical parameters of the metasurface and environmental refractive index. The fabricated metasurface approached transmission peaks at 1128 nm, 1245 nm, and 1362 nm, functioning as a three-passbands filter. With advantages of brief single-layer fabrication and multi-frequency selectivity, the proposed plasmonic filter has potential possibilities of integration in nano-photonic switching, detecting and biological sensing systems.

Plasmonic Narrowband Filter Based on an Equilateral Triangular Resonator with a Silver Bar

A kind of plasmonic structure consisted of an equilateral triangle-shaped cavity (ETSC) and a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide is proposed to realize triple Fano resonances. Numerically simulated by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, Fano resonances inside the structure are also explained by the coupled mode theory (CMT) and standing wave theory. For further research, inverting ETSC could dramatically increase quality factor to enhance resonance wavelength selectivity. After that, a bar is introduced into the ETSC and the inverted ETSC to increase resonance wavelengths through changing the structural parameters of the bar. In addition, working as a highly efficient narrowband filter, this structure owes a good sensitivity (S = 923 nm/RIU) and a pretty high-quality factor (Q = 322) along with a figure of merit (FOM = 710). Additionally, a narrowband peak with 1.25 nm Full-Width-Half-Maximum (FWHM) can be obtained. This structure will be used in highly integrated optical circuits in future.

Dynamically Switchable Polarization-Independent Triple-Band Perfect Metamaterial Absorber Using a Phase-Change Material in the Mid-Infrared (MIR) Region

A tunable metamaterial absorber (MMA) by reversible phase transitions in a mid-infrared regime is theoretically investigated. The absorber is composed of a molybdenum (Mo)-germanium-antimony-tellurium (Ge₂Sb₂Te₅, GST)-Mo nanodisk structure superimposed on the GST-Al₂O₃ (aluminum oxide)-Mo film. Studies have shown that the combination of the inlaid metal-medium dielectric waveguide mode and the resonant cavity mode and the excitation of the propagating surface plasmon mode are the main reasons for the formation of the triple-band high absorption. Additionally, through the reversible phase change, the transition from high absorption to high reflection in the mid-infrared region is realized. The symmetry of the absorber eliminates the polarization dependence, and the near unity absorption efficiency can be maintained by incidence angles up to 60°. The presented method will enhance the functionality of the absorber and has the potential for the applications that require active control over light absorption.

Design of Narrow-Band Absorber Based on Symmetric Silicon Grating and Research on Its Sensing Performance

In this paper, using the surface plasmon and Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity, the design of a symmetric silicon grating absorber is proposed. The time-domain finite difference method is used for simulation calculations. The basic unit structure is a dielectric grating composed of silicon dioxide, metal and silicon. Through the adjustment of geometric parameters, we have achieved the best of the symmetric silicon grating absorber. A narrowband absorption peak with an absorption rate greater than 99% is generated in the 3000–5000 nm optical band, and the wavelength of the absorption peak is λ = 3750 nm. The physical absorption mechanism is that silicon light generates surface plasmon waves under the interaction with incident light, and the electromagnetic field coupling of surface plasmon waves and light causes surface plasmon resonance, thereby exciting strong light response modulation. We also explore the influence of geometric parameters and polarization angle on the performance of silicon grating absorbers. Finally, we systematically study the refractive index sensitivity of these structures. These structures can be widely used in optical filtering, spectral sensing, gas detection and other fields.

Selective Emitter with Engineered Anisotropic Radiation to Minimize Dual-Band Thermal Signature for Infrared Stealth Technology

Selective emitters comprising plasmonic resonators have been exploited for cooling devices or infrared stealth technology. While selective emitters have been designed using odd-order resonances, even-order resonances also emit anisotropic thermal radiation signals. Thermal radiation by even-order resonances in selective emitters can be experimentally detected by thermal imaging cameras, and such thermal emissions often degrade the observability of infrared detectors, rendering them inapplicable to infrared stealth technology. Here, a selective emitter with extremely low thermal radiation signature in a dual-band range, a detection range by an infrared detector, is proposed with engineering anisotropic thermal radiation by even-order resonances. To minimize infrared signature in a dual-band range, the characterization of even-order resonances of gap plasmon metasurfaces is achieved based on vectorial diffraction within a relative error of 10%. Thermal radiation by even-order resonance has been shown to be highly directional and can be experimentally measured using mid-wave infrared images. Based on model prediction, the proposed selective emitter reduces mid-wave infrared signatures and long-wave infrared signatures by factors of 37.95 and 38.06, respectively, compared with those of blackbody surfaces. In addition, numerically confirmed thermal signature reduction and captured mid-wave infrared images indicate excellent thermal camouflage performance of the selective emitter with background medium. Thus, the characterization of even-order resonances provides a basis for the design of metasurfaces that can be employed for multispectral applications, especially infrared stealth technology.

Second Harmonic Generation from Phase-Engineered Metasurfaces of Nanoprisms

Metasurfaces of gold (Au) nanoparticles on a SiO2-Si substrate were fabricated for the enhancement of second harmonic generation (SHG) using electron beam lithography and lift-off. Triangular Au nanoprisms which are non-centro-symmetric and support second-order nonlinearity were examined for SHG. The thickness of the SiO2 spacer is shown to be an effective parameter to tune for maximising SHG. Electrical field enhancement at the fundamental wavelength was shown to define the SHG intensity. Numerical modeling of light enhancement was verified by experimental measurements of SHG and reflectivity spectra at the normal incidence. At the plasmonic resonance, SHG is enhanced up to ∼3.5 × 103 times for the optimised conditions.

Kirchhoff's Thermal Radiation from Lithography-Free Black Metals

Lithography-free black metals composed of a nano-layered stack of materials are attractive not only due to their optical properties but also by virtue of fabrication simplicity and the cost reduction of devices based on such structures. We demonstrate multi-layer black metal layered structures with engineered electromagnetic absorption in the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range. Characterization of thin SiO2 and Si films sandwiched between two Au layers by way of experimental electromagnetic radiation absorption and thermal radiation emission measurements as well as finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulations is presented. Comparison of experimental and simulation data derived optical properties of multi-layer black metals provide guidelines for absorber/emitter structure design and potential applications. In addition, relatively simple lithography-free multi-layer structures are shown to exhibit absorber/emitter performance that is on par with what is reported in the literature for considerably more elaborate nano/micro-scale patterned metasurfaces.