Block Copolymer Directed Metamaterials and Metasurfaces for Novel Optical Devices

Optical metamaterials are artificially engineered architectures that exhibit desired optical properties not found in nature. Bespoke design requires the ability to define shape, size, orientation, and composition of material structures on the nanometer length scale. Bottom-up self-assembly methods, such as block copolymer (BCP) templating, offer unique pathways to tailored features, at spatial resolution not routinely achieved by conventional top-down techniques. In this review, the authors provide the general readership with basic concepts of the underlying fabrication processes and examine optical phenomena arising from BCP-derived metamaterials and nanoresonators, with both dielectric and plasmonic characteristics. A number of diverse structural conformations designed by BCP templating and their implementation in optical devices is evaluated. The discussion includes 3D metamaterials, such as gyroidal and hyperbolic arrangements, as well as 2D metasurfaces. Based on recent developments in exploring these emerging structural and material configurations, the review further highlights unexplored opportunities offered by BCP self-assembly for novel metamaterials and metasurface devices.

Automated summary

Optical metamaterials are artificially engineered structures with desired optical properties not found in nature, and bottom-up self-assembly methods such as BCP templating allow for tailored features at nanometer scales. The review explores optical phenomena arising from BCP-derived metamaterials, including dielectric and plasmonic characteristics, as well as diverse structural conformations and implementation in optical devices. Recent developments highlight unexplored opportunities for novel metamaterials and metasurface devices through BCP self-assembly.