Enhancing Focusing and Defocusing Capabilities with a Dynamically Reconfigurable Metalens Utilizing Sb2Se3 Phase-Change Material

Chen Shen; Jiachi Ye; Nicola Peserico; Yaliang Gui; Chaobo Dong; Haoyan Kang; Behrouz Movahhed Nouri; Hao Wang; Elham Heidari; Volker J. Sorger; Hamed Dalir

doi:10.3390/nano13142106

Nanomaterials (Jul 2023)

Enhancing Focusing and Defocusing Capabilities with a Dynamically Reconfigurable Metalens Utilizing Sb2Se3 Phase-Change Material

Chen Shen,
Jiachi Ye,
Nicola Peserico,
Yaliang Gui,
Chaobo Dong,
Haoyan Kang,
Behrouz Movahhed Nouri,
Hao Wang,
Elham Heidari,
Volker J. Sorger,
Hamed Dalir

Affiliations

Chen Shen: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Jiachi Ye: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Nicola Peserico: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Yaliang Gui: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Chaobo Dong: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Haoyan Kang: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Behrouz Movahhed Nouri: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Hao Wang: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Elham Heidari: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Volker J. Sorger: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Hamed Dalir: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142106
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 14
p. 2106

Abstract

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Metalenses are emerging as an alternative to digital micromirror devices (DMDs), with the advantages of compactness and flexibility. The exploration of metalenses has ignited enthusiasm among optical engineers, positioning them as the forthcoming frontier in technology. In this paper, we advocate for the implementation of the phase-change material, Sb2Se3, capable of providing swift, reversible, non-volatile focusing and defocusing within the 1550 nm telecom spectrum. The lens, equipped with a robust ITO microheater, offers unparalleled functionality and constitutes a significant step toward dynamic metalenses that can be integrated with beamforming applications. After a meticulously conducted microfabrication process, we showcase a device capable of rapid tuning (0.1 MHz level) for metalens focusing and defocusing at C band communication, achieved by alternating the PCM state between the amorphous and crystalline states. The findings from the experiment show that the device has a high contrast ratio for switching of 28.7 dB.

Published in Nanomaterials

ISSN: 2079-4991 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials

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