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High-efficiency broadband active metasurfaces via reversible metal electrodeposition
Qizhang Li1, Sachin Prashant Kulkarni2, Chenxi Sui1
1Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Light, Science & Applications
|January 3, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed active metasurfaces using reversible metal electrodeposition for dynamic beam steering. This method offers exceptional tunability and high efficiencies across a broad bandwidth, enabling advanced optical devices.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Achieving tunable active metasurfaces is crucial for advanced applications.
- Current methods face challenges in dynamically controlling light-matter interactions at subwavelength scales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce reversible metal electrodeposition as a versatile method for creating highly tunable active metasurfaces.
- To demonstrate a dynamic beam-steering device using this novel approach.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reversible copper electrodeposition on a gradient metasurface composed of metal-insulator-metal resonators.
- Applied varying voltages to control electrodeposition and stripping of copper atoms around resonators.
- Investigated the effect on gap-surface plasmon resonances and light steering.
Main Results:
- Achieved >90% diffraction efficiencies and >60% reflection efficiencies in specular and anomalous modes.
- Demonstrated high performance and stability over thousands of electrodeposition cycles.
- Extended high efficiencies from visible to near- and mid-infrared regimes.
Conclusions:
- Reversible metal electrodeposition provides exceptional tunability for active metasurfaces.
- This technique enables robust and versatile active optical and thermal devices across various wavelengths.
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