A Versatile Metasurface Enabling Superwettability for Self‐Cleaning and Dynamic Color Response. Issue 1 (18th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Jinlong; Sain, Basudeb; Georgi, Philip; Protte, Maximilian; Bartley, Tim; Zentgraf, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Advanced optical materials. Volume 10:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-10-18
• Subjects: metasurfaces -- self‐cleaning -- structural colors -- superwettability; Optical materials -- Periodicals; Photonics -- Periodicals; 620.11295
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202101781
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2195-1071

Abstract

Abstract: Metasurfaces provide applications for a variety of flat elements and devices due to the ability to modulate light with subwavelength structures. The working principle meanwhile gives rise to the crucial problem and challenge to protect the metasurface from dust or clean the unavoidable contaminants during daily usage. Here, taking advantage of the intelligent bioinspired surfaces which exhibit self‐cleaning properties, a versatile dielectric metasurface benefiting from the obtained superhydrophilic or quasi‐superhydrophobic states is shown. The design is realized by embedding the metasurface inside a large area of wettability supporting structures, which is highly efficient in fabrication, and achieves both optical and wettability functionality at the same time. The superhydrophilic state enables an enhanced optical response with water, while the quasi‐superhydrophobic state imparts the fragile antennas an ability to self‐clean dust contamination. Furthermore, the metasurface can be easily switched and repeated between these two wettability or functional states by appropriate treatments in a repeatable way, without degrading the optical performance. The proposed design strategy will bring new opportunities to smart metasurfaces with improved optical performance, versatility, and physical stability. Abstract : Benefiting from the obtained superwettability states, a versatile optical metasurface is demonstrated. The superhydrophilic state enables an enhanced color response with water, while the quasi‐superhydrophobic state imparts the fragile antennas an ability to self‐clean dust contamination. Furthermore, the metasurface can be easily switched and repeated between these two states without degrading the optical performance.