Polarization-independent 3D metasurface with complex amplitude modulation.

Metasurfaces, which possess unprecedented capabilities in manipulating electromagnetic wavefronts, are promising for accurate complex amplitude modulation with a compact device. However, current strategy of complex amplitude modulation based on metasurfaces focuses on anisotropic unit design which is intrinsically constrained of polarization states. In this study, we propose a design methodology of polarization-independent metasurface which comprises an array of nanocylinders with various radii and heights. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified using an optical vortex generator and a complex-amplitude hologram device. The straightforward, cost-effective, and polarization-independent design can provide robust and reliable solutions for wavefronts modulation in various optical applications.

Directional Assembly of ZnO Nanowires via Three-Dimensional Laser Direct Writing.

The precise placement of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) into two- or three-dimensional (2D/3D) micro-/nanoarchitectures is a key for the construction of integrated functional devices. However, long-pending challenges still exist in high-resolution 3D assembly of semiconductor NWs. Here, we have achieved directional assembly of zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs into nearly arbitrary 3D architectures with high spatial resolution using two-photon polymerization. The NWs can regularly align in any desired direction along the laser scanning pathway. Through theoretical calculation and control experiments, we unveiled the laser-induced assembly mechanism and found that the nonoptical forces are the dominant factor leading to the directional assembly of ZnO NWs. A ZnO-NW-based polarization-resolved UV photodetector of excellent photoresponsivity was fabricated to demonstrate the potential application of the assembled ZnO NWs. This work is expected to promote the research on NW-based integrated devices such as photonic integrated circuits, sensors, and metamaterial with unprecedented controllability of the NW's placement in three dimensions.

3D Directional Assembly of Liquid Crystal Molecules.

The precise construction of hierarchically long-range ordered structures using molecules as fundamental building blocks can fully harness their anisotropy and potential. However, the 3D, high-precision, and single-step directional assembly of molecules is a long-pending challenge. Here, a 3D directional molecular assembly strategy via femtosecond laser direct writing (FsLDW) is proposed and the feasibility of this approach using liquid crystal (LC) molecules as an illustrative example is demonstrated. The physical mechanism for femtosecond (fs) laser-induced assembly of LC molecules is investigated, and precise 3D arbitrary assembly of LC molecules is achieved by defining the discretized laser scanning pathway. Additionally, an LC-based Fresnel zone plate array with polarization selection and colorization imaging functions is fabricated to further illustrate the potential of this method. This study not only introduces a 3D high-resolution alignment method for LC-based functional devices but also establishes a universal protocol for the precise 3D directional assembly of anisotropic molecules.

3D printing of nanowrinkled architectures via laser direct assembly.

Structural wrinkles in nature have been widely imitated to enhance the surface functionalities of objects, especially three-dimensional (3D) architectured wrinkles, holding promise for emerging applications in mechanical, electrical, and biological processes. However, the fabrication of user-defined 3D nanowrinkled architectures is a long-pending challenge. Here, we propose a bottom-up laser direct assembly strategy to fabricate multidimensional nanowrinkled architectures in a single-material one-step process. Through the introduction of laser-induced thermal transition into a 3D nanoprinting process for leading the point-by-point nanoscale wrinkling and the self-organization of wrinkle structures, we have demonstrated the program-controlled and on-demand fabrication of multidimensional nanowrinkled structures. Moreover, the precise control of wrinkle morphology with an optimal wavelength of 40 nanometers and the regulation of the dynamic transformation of wrinkled cellular microstructures via interfacial stress mismatch engineering have been achieved. This study provides a universal protocol for constructing nearly arbitrary nanowrinkled architectures and facilitates a new paradigm in nanostructure manufacturing.

Rapid In-Situ Synthesis and Patterning of Edge-Unsaturated MoS2 by Femtosecond Laser-Induced Photo-Chemical Reaction.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a representative transition metal sulfide that is widely used in gas and biological detection, energy storage, and integrated electronic devices due to its unique optoelectrical and chemical characteristics. To advance toward the miniaturization and on-chip integration of functional devices, it is strategically important to develop a high-precision and cost-effective method for the synthesis and integration of MoS2 patterns and functional devices. Traditional methods require multiple steps and time-consuming processes such as material synthesis, transfer, and photolithography to fabricate MoS2 patterns at the desired region on the substrate, significantly increasing the difficulty of manufacturing micro/nanodevices. In this work, we propose a single-step femtosecond laser-induced photochemical method which can realize the fabrication of arbitrary two-dimensional edge-unsaturated MoS2 patterns with high efficiency in microscale. Based on this method, MoS2 can be synthesized at a rate of 150 µm/s, 2 orders of magnitude faster than existing laser-based thermal decomposition methods without sacrificing the resolution and quality. The morphology and roughness of the MoS2 pattern can be controlled by adjusting the laser parameters. Furthermore, the femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW) method was used to fabricate microscale MoS2-based gas detectors that can detect a variety of toxic gases with high sensitivity up to 0.5 ppm at room temperature. This FLDW method is not only applicable to the fabrication of high-precision MoS2 patterns and integrated functional devices, it also provides an effective route for the development of other micro/nanodevices based on a broad range of transition metal sulfides and other functional materials.

Two-Step Freezing Polymerization Method for Efficient Synthesis of High-Performance Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels.

The widespread use of stimuli-responsive hydrogels is closely related to their synthesis efficiency. However, the widely used thermal-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels usually require a time-consuming synthesis process to produce (more than 12 h) and exhibit a relatively slow response speed in the field of cryo-polymerization. In this study, a sequence of thawing polymerization after freezing polymerization by a two-step method of free radical polymerization for the efficient synthesis of PNIPAM hydrogels (merely 2 h) with an excellent comprehensive performance is demonstrated. Results show that the overall performance of the as-synthesized PNIPAM hydrogels is at the top level among reported works despite the significantly reduced preparation time. Moreover, after incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), the PNIPAM hydrogels exhibit a rapid near-infrared (NIR) light-response and programmable shape-morphing capability. It is believed that such a viable and time-saving synthetic method for producing PNIPAM hydrogels of high performance will lay a solid foundation for drug delivery and smart actuators.

Dynamic 3D meta-holography in visible range with large frame number and high frame rate.

The hologram is an ideal method for displaying three-dimensional images visible to the naked eye. Metasurfaces consisting of subwavelength structures show great potential in light field manipulation, which is useful for overcoming the drawbacks of common computer-generated holography. However, there are long-existing challenges to achieving dynamic meta-holography in the visible range, such as low frame rate and low frame number. In this work, we demonstrate a design of meta-holography that can achieve 228 different holographic frames and an extremely high frame rate (9523 frames per second) in the visible range. The design is based on a space channel metasurface and a high-speed dynamic structured laser beam modulation module. The space channel consists of silicon nitride nanopillars with a high modulation efficiency. This method can satisfy the needs of a holographic display and be useful in other applications, such as laser fabrication, optical storage, optics communications, and information processing.