The ability to electrically control the optical properties of metamaterials is an essential capability required for technological innovation. The creation of dynamic electrically tunable metamaterials in the visible and near infrared regions is important for a range of imaging and fiber optic technologies. However, current approaches require complex nanofabrication processes which are incompatible for low‐cost device production. Herein, a novel simple approach is reported for electrical control of optical properties which uses a flexoelectric dielectric element to electromechanically manipulate the form factor of a chiral nanostructure. By altering the dimensions of the chiral nanostructure, the polarization properties of light are allowed to be electrically controlled. The flexoelectric element is part of a composite metafilm that is templated onto a nanostructured polymer substrate. As the flexoelectric element does not require in situ high temperature annealing, it can be readily combined with polymer‐based substrates produced by high throughput methods. This is not the case for piezoelectric elements, routinely used in microelectromechanical (MEM) devices which require high temperature processing. Consequently, combining amorphous flexoelectric dielectrics and low‐cost polymer‐based materials provides a route to the high throughput production of electrically responsive disposable metadevices.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.