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Metamaterials from Plasma-Treated Block Copolymer Monolith
Chien Chen1, Jui-Chang Chuang2, Ke-Hsin Yin1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013, R.O.C.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel method to create thin-film metamaterials from plasma-treated polymers. These metamaterials exhibit high transmittance, impact resistance, and potential applications in semiconductor devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Metamaterials offer unique optical and mechanical properties.
- Developing cost-effective fabrication methods for metamaterials is crucial.
- Polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS-b-PDMS) is a versatile block copolymer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a facile method for fabricating thin-film metamaterials.
- To create metamaterials with high transmittance and impact resistance.
- To explore the application of these metamaterials as protective coatings.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of thin-film metamaterials from plasma-treated PS-b-PDMS monoliths.
- Utilizing oxygen plasma treatment to oxidize PDMS to SiO2 and decompose PS.
- Characterizing the resulting nanoporous SiO2 thin film's structure and properties.
Main Results:
- Achieved high transmittance and superior impact resistance in the fabricated metamaterials.
- The resulting SiO2 thin film exhibited an ultralow refractive index and well-ordered nanonetwork texture.
- Demonstrated the potential of the SiO2 nanonetwork as a ductile glass coating for indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive lines.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a facile route to high-performance optical and mechanical metamaterials.
- The nanoporous SiO2 thin films possess properties suitable for protective coatings in semiconductor devices.
- This work highlights the potential of plasma-treated block copolymers for advanced material applications.
