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Ultrathin Lithium Niobate Metalenses Transform Infrared into Visible Light

The technique merges chemical synthesis with precision nanoimprinting to stamp liquid lithium niobate into reusable molds for cost-effective, high-volume production.

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Overview

  • Researchers demonstrated frequency-doubling of 800 nm infrared beams into 400 nm visible violet light using ultra-thin metasurfaces on lithium niobate.
  • The fabrication protocol employs nanoimprinting of a liquid precursor followed by a 600 °C heat treatment to crystallize nanostructures for light conversion.
  • Nonlinear optical interactions in the metalenses remain wavelength-agile, allowing flexible frequency conversion across diverse input bands.
  • Reusable inverse molds enable a scalable manufacturing route that cuts costs and supports large-volume output of the flat lenses.
  • Potential applications range from counterfeit-proof security features and infrared visualization in standard cameras to enhanced telecommunications and sensing devices.