Quasiperiodic metamaterials empowered non-metallic broadband optical absorbers

Opt Express. 2021 Apr 26;29(9):13576-13589. doi: 10.1364/OE.423353.

Abstract

Realizing a polarization-insensitive broadband optical absorber plays a key role in the implementation of microstructure optoelectrical devices with on-demand functionalities. However, the challenge is that most of these devices involve the constituent metals, thus suffering from poor chemical and thermal stability and a complicated manufacturing process. In addition, the extreme contrast between the negative (metallic) and positive (dielectric) real parts of the constituent permittivities can cause additional problems in the design of structural devices. Based on these facts, this work proposes a design of planar broadband one-dimensional structure based on Fibonacci geometry. Experimental results show that the proposed planar structure exhibits high absorptivity behavior independent of polarization and angle in the wavelength range of 300-1000 nm. The absorptivity remains more than 80% when the incident angle is 60°. This proof-of-concept represents a new strategy for realizing non-metallic broadband optical absorbers with advantages of polarization-independence, low-cost, and wide-field-of-view and paves the way for light manipulation under harsh conditions.