Electromechanically reconfigurable optical nano-kirigami

Kirigami, with facile and automated fashion of three-dimensional (3D) transformations, offers an unconventional approach for realizing cutting-edge optical nano-electromechanical systems. Here, we demonstrate an on-chip and electromechanically reconfigurable nano-kirigami with optical functionalities. The nano-electromechanical system is built on an Au/SiO2/Si substrate and operated via attractive electrostatic forces between the top gold nanostructure and bottom silicon substrate. Large-range nano-kirigami like 3D deformations are clearly observed and reversibly engineered, with scalable pitch size down to 0.975 mu m. Broadband nonresonant and narrowband resonant optical reconfigurations are achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, respectively, with a high modulation contrast up to 494%. On-chip modulation of optical helicity is further demonstrated in submicron nano-kirigami at near-infrared wavelengths. Such small-size and high-contrast reconfigurable optical nano-kirigami provides advanced methodologies and platforms for versatile on-chip manipulation of light at nanoscale. The authors present on-chip and electromechanically reconfigurable nanokirigami with optical functionalities. 3D deformations are achieved via attractive electrostatic forces between a gold nanostructure layer and silicon substrate, resulting in optical reconfigurations with high modulation contrast and small unit size.

Automated summary

The authors present a novel nanokirigami with optical functionalities, demonstrating large range nano-kirigami deformations achieved via attractive electrostatic forces between gold nanostructures and silicon substrate. Optical reconfigurations with high modulation contrast and small unit size are achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths.