![(Top) Diagram showing the role of ZrO2 nanocomposites in achieving high transmission fidelity ultraviolet metaholograms. Credit: POSTECH Discovering optimal conditions for mass production of ultraviolet holograms](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2024/discover-optimal-condi.jpg)
(Top) Diagram showing ZrO2 The role of nanocomposites in achieving high transmission fidelity ultraviolet metaholograms. Credit: POSTECH
The researchers investigated the composition of nanocomposites for fabricating ultraviolet metasurfaces and determined the ideal printing material to fabricate them. Their findings were published in the journal Microsystems and Nanoengineering April 22nd.
Metasurface, an ultra-thin optical device, possesses the incredible ability to control light down to mere nanometer thickness. Metasurfaces have been the subject of continuous research as a pivotal technology for the development of next-generation displays, imaging, and biosensing. The range extends beyond visible light to the infrared and ultraviolet regions.
Nanoimprint lithography is a stamp-like metasurface production technology that creates numerous replicas from a single mold. This innovative technology promises inexpensive, large-scale manufacturing of metasurfaces and lays the foundation for their commercial viability. However, resins used as printing materials have the disadvantage of having a low refractive index, which hinders efficient light manipulation.
To address this issue, researchers are actively exploring nanocomposites by incorporating nanoparticles into resins to increase their refractive index. However, the efficacy of this approach depends on various factors such as nanoparticle type and solvent selection, thus requiring systematic analysis for optimal metasurface performance.
In the study, the team meticulously designed experiments to evaluate the effects of nanoparticle concentration and solvent choice on pattern transfer and UV metaholograms.
In particular, they manipulated the concentration of zirconium dioxide (ZrO).2) is a nanocomposite renowned for its UV metahologram generation efficiency ranging from 20% to 90%. Studies have shown that the highest pattern transfer efficiency is achieved at a concentration level of 80%.
Additionally, when combining ZrO2 To implement metaholograms, the conversion efficiency rapidly increased to 62.3%, 51.4%, and 61.5% in the ultraviolet spectrum (325 nm) using various solvents such as methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, and acetone at a concentration of 80%, respectively.
This research marks an important milestone by establishing optimal measurements to achieve metaholograms specifically tailored to the ultraviolet rather than the visible region, while also pioneering the development of new nanocomposites.
Professor Noh Jun-seok of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) said, “Using titanium dioxide (TiO2)2) and silicon (Si) nanocomposites instead of ZrO2 “It expands the applicability to visible and infrared light.”
“Our future research efforts will focus on improving the preparation conditions for optimal nanocomposites, thereby facilitating the advancement, application, and expansion of optical metasurface fabrication technologies.”
The research team includes Professor Noh of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, Hyunjeong Kang, Dr. Nara Jeon, and Doctor of Science. Dong-Kyo Oh, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is a student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH.
Additional information:
Hyunjeong Kang et al., Tuning high refractive index nanocomposites for fabrication of ultraviolet metasurfaces; Microsystems and Nanoengineering (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00681-w
Provided by Pohang University of Science and Technology
Summons: Researchers discover optimal conditions for mass production of ultraviolet holograms (May 9, 2024) https://phys.org/news/2024-05-optimal-conditions-mass-production-ultraviolet.html Retrieved May 10
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