Electro-active metaobjective from metalenses-on-demand

Switchable metasurfaces can actively control the functionality of integrated metadevices with high efficiency and on ultra-small length scales. Such metadevices include active lenses, dynamic diffractive optical elements, or switchable holograms. Especially, for applications in emerging technologies such as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) devices, sophisticated metaoptics with unique functionalities are crucially important. In particular, metaoptics which can be switched electrically on or off will allow to change the routing, focusing, or functionality in general of miniaturized optical components on demand. Here, we demonstrate metalenses-on-demand made from metallic polymer plasmonic nanoantennas which are electrically switchable at CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) compatible voltages of +/- 1 V. The nanoantennas exhibit plasmonic resonances which can be reversibly switched ON and OFF via the applied voltage, utilizing the optical metal-to-insulator transition of the metallic polymer. Ultimately, we realize an electro-active non-volatile multi-functional metaobjective composed of two metalenses, whose unique optical states can be set on demand. Overall, our work opens up the possibility for a new level of electro-optical elements for ultra-compact photonic integration. Future optical devices, e.g., for AR and VR, will require sophisticated flat metaoptics with unique optical functionalities. The authors demonstrate a metaobjective based on electrically switchable metallic polymer metalenses, whose optical states and focal length is adjustable via CMOS compatible voltages.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates electrically switchable metallic polymer metalenses, whose optical states and focal length can be adjusted via CMOS compatible voltages, opening up new possibilities for ultra-compact photonic integration.