Atomic-Layer Engineered Infrared-Plasmonic, Low Loss, Oxide Metamaterials

非技术描述：该项目旨在通过原子层工程进一步开发一类新的光学材料，并了解在可见光中透明的氧化物材料的原子层掺杂的效果和机制。该研究旨在通过提供一类新的光学材料来扩大材料科学的机会空间，这些材料在可见光中高度透明，在红外光中具有异常强的介电响应和不透明，并且在宽光谱范围内具有高度各向异性的光学特性。该研究项目为年轻的研究人员提供了从材料合成到分析和应用的全面培训，特别是当材料是新的和“超越”自然界中可以找到的材料时。技术描述：为了实现材料结构和成分的原子层工程目标，以获得以前无法获得的特性，设计了透明氧化物超晶格结构，通过原子层沉积（ALD）合成并表征。在AlOx/ZnO、TiOx/ZnO、GaOx/ZnO和InOx/ZnO的超晶格中，单独的掺杂剂原子层被周期性地或以可变间距插入到主体透明氧化物（例如ZnO）中，导致2D“掺杂层”和氧化物“间隔层”的交替堆叠。“原子层“掺杂”方法为实现和可控地改变以前不可用的电光特性以及通过设计实现各向异性和双曲色散开辟了可能性。这些新型材料具有特殊的结构/电光特性，例如高电子密度、高电子电导率、可见光中的高透明度和红外线中的强等离子体共振。

Non-technical Description: This project seeks to further the development of a new class of optical materials by atomic-layer engineering and to understand the effects and mechanisms of incorporating atomic-layer doping of oxide materials that are transparent in the visible light. The research is designed to expand the space of opportunities in materials science by providing a new class of optical materials that are highly transparent in the visible light, have unusually strong dielectric responses and opaque in the infrared light, and are highly anisotropic in optical properties over a broad spectrum. The research project provides a comprehensive training to young researchers from material synthesis to analysis and applications, especially when the materials are new and "beyond" what can be found in nature. It fosters a stronger collaboration with leading research teams in France and Korea.Technical Description: To accomplish the goal of atomic-layer engineering of the material structure and composition to acquire previously unavailable properties, transparent oxide superlattice structures are designed, synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and characterized. In superlattices of AlOx/ZnO, TiOx/ZnO, GaOx/ZnO, and InOx/ZnO, individual dopant atomic-layers are inserted into a host transparent oxide (e.g. ZnO), either periodically or with a variable spacing, resulting in an alternating stacking of 2D "doping-layer" and oxide "spacer-layer." The atomic-layer "doping" approach opens possibilities for achieving and controllably varying electro-optical properties that were previously unavailable, and for realizing anisotropic and hyperbolic dispersions by design. Extraordinary structural/electro-optical properties, such as high electron densities, high electron conductivities, high transparency in the visible, and strong plasmonic resonance in the infrared, are expected for these novel materials.