In3SbTe2 as a programmable nanophotonics material platform for the infrared

Nature Communications, vol. 12, pp. 924

Abstract

Abstract The high dielectric optical contrast between the amorphous and crystalline structural phases of non-volatile phase-change materials (PCMs) provides a promising route towards tuneable nanophotonic devices. Here, we employ the next-generation PCM In3SbTe2 (IST) whose optical properties change from dielectric to metallic upon crystallization in the whole infrared spectral range. This distinguishes IST as a switchable infrared plasmonic PCM and enables a programmable nanophotonics material platform. We show how resonant metallic nanostructures can be directly written, modified and erased on and below the meta-atom level in an IST thin film by a pulsed switching laser, facilitating direct laser writing lithography without need for cumbersome multi-step nanofabrication. With this technology, we demonstrate large resonance shifts of nanoantennas of more than 4 µm, a tuneable mid-infrared absorber with nearly 90% absorptance as well as screening and nanoscale “soldering” of metallic nanoantennas. Our concepts can empower improved designs of programmable nanophotonic devices for telecommunications, (bio)sensing and infrared optics, e.g. programmable infrared detectors, emitters and reconfigurable holograms.

Authors 11

1. Andreas Heßler corresponding Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. hessler@physik.rwth-aachen.de

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Sophia Wahl Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Till Leuteritz

   University of Bonn

   Affiliation as printed

   Physikalisches Institut, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

4. Christina Stergianou Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Carl‐Friedrich Schön Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

6. Niklas Eicker Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

7. Martin Lewin Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

8. Tobias W. W. Maß Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

9. Matthias Wuttig Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

10. Stefan Lindén

    University of Bonn

    Affiliation as printed

    Physikalisches Institut, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

11. Thomas Taubner corresponding Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. taubner@physik.rwth-aachen.de

    Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany