Strain-Driven In-plane Ordering in Vertically Aligned ZnO-Au Nanocomposites with Highly Correlated Metamaterial Properties

Hyperbolic metamaterials demonstrate exotic optical properties that are poised to find applications in subdiffi-action imaging and hyperlenses. Key challenges remain for practical applications, such as high energy losses and lack of hyperbolic properties in shorter wavelengths. In this work, a new oxide-metal (ZnO-Au) hybrid-material system in the vertically aligned nanocomposite thin-film form has been demonstrated with very promising in-plane two-phase ordering using a one-step growth method. Au nanopillars grow epitaxially in the ZnO matrix, and the pillar morphology, orientation, and quasi-hexagonal in-plane ordering are found to be effectively tuned by the growth parameters. Strong surface plasmon resonance has been observed in the hybrid system in the UV-vis range, and highly anisotropic dielectric properties have resulted with much broader and tunable hyperbolic wavelength regimes. The observed strain-driven two-phase in-plane ordering and its novel tunable hyperbolic metamaterial properties all demonstrate strong potential for future oxide-metal hybrid-material design toward future integrated hybrid photonics.