Metasurfaces, which can manipulate light in a versatile manner, are composed of a periodic array of nanostructures and require high-resolution nanofabrication, making it difficult to commercialize. Korean researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Korea University have developed a high-refractive-index nanoparticle-embedded resin (nano-PER) printing process for the facile fabrication of metasurfaces.

The researchers have been leading metasurface research globally, actively conducting alternative nanofabrication for practical fabrication of metasurfaces as well as enhancing the functionality of metasurfaces. They developed a high-refractive-index resin with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles, designed a high-performance UV metasurface, and easily fabricated the metasurface using a nanoimprint lithography (NIL) process. The fabricated metasurface achieved high light conversion efficiencies of 72.3% and 48.6% in the UV (325 nm) and deep UV (248 nm) regime, respectively, demonstrating that high-performance metasurfaces can be practically produced.

Prof. Rho said that “As the practical manufacturing technology of metasurfaces expands its resolution to the ultraviolet regime, not only metasurfaces but also a variety of optical devices with a similar size will be able to move up the practical use of next-generation subminiature devices”.

High-performance UV metasurface fabricated by the ZrO2 nano-PER printing process

[Reference]  Kim, J., Kim, W., Oh, D.K. et al., (2023) “One-step printable platform for high-efficiency metasurfaces down to the deep-ultraviolet region.” Light: Science and Applications 12, 68, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01086-6

[Main Author] Joohoon Kim (Pohang University of Science and Technology), Wonjoong Kim (Korea University), Dong Kyo Oh (Pohang University of Science and Technology)

* Contact : Professor Junsuk Rho (jsrho@postech.ac.kr), Professor Heon Lee (heonlee@korea.ac.kr)