New meta-lens revolutionises vacuum UV optics
27 July 2022
News
Vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) is used in semiconductor manufacturing, photochemistry and materials science. The focused VUV light source is needed for nanolithography, material processing, advanced manufacturing, and other industrial areas.
Up to now it has been expensive to work with. VUV with wavelengths between 100 and 200 nm is strongly absorbed by the oxygen in air, and therefore, the application of VUV requires a vacuum chamber or other specialised environment. Conventionally, very bulky and expensive systems with rare nonlinear crystals are used for generating and focusing VUV light.
Almost all types of glass used to make conventional lenses are unsuitable for VUV due to their strong absorption in this region, and the few VUV-transmittable materials currently used for lenses are extremely thin and fragile.
To address these limitations, researchers at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have developed and fabricated a meta-lens consisting of many 150 nm triangle-shaped zinc oxide nano-antenna. “We have developed a meta-lens with intricate nanostructures on zinc oxide thin film capable of focusing VUV light. This meta-lens provides a compact method for nonlinear VUV generation and focusing of the generated light,” said Professor Tsai.
The new VUV meta-lens in a 45 µm diameter can convert UV light with 394 nm wavelength into VUV light with 197 nm wavelength and focuses the VUV light on a small spot less than 2 microns in diameter. Tests at Rice University demonstrated a focused light spot from the lens with an enhanced power density of 21 times.
“Our VUV meta-lens is compact, lightweight, effective, and can be mass produced [in a] semiconductor electronics fabrication process. This novel and disruptive meta-device could revolutionise the conventional VUV optics technology and its market,” Professor Tsai said.
Further reading:
Workshop: Product development and industrialisation
News
SKEG is excited to join forces with The Lion Cage to present a workshop on the intricacies of product development and industrialisation to assist in guiding innovative ventures to scale.
Read more...
Infineon Academy
Infineon Technologies
News
Infineon Academy offers a range of over 600 product and application trainings, all carefully curated to help visitors maximise the benefits of Infineon offerings.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Can IoT innovation in SA be a thing?
Technews Publishing
News
To support a cellular-based IoT industry, more needs to be done to address the cost and connectivity issues plaguing local players, and until that is done, SA will continue to remain at the back of the pack.
Read more...
Silicon Labs’ second quarter results
News
Silicon Labs recently released its second-quarter financial highlights with a reported revenue of $145 million and operating expenses totalling $125 million.
Read more...
Conical has moved
Conical Technologies
News
Conical Technologies recently moved into new premises located at 434 Rigel Avenue, Erasmusrand, Pretoria.
Read more...
Lifetime achievement award
News
KIOXIA, the inventor of NAND flash memory, is the recipient of the FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 for its vertical stacking technology.
Read more...
Solar Youth Academy training programme
News
At the beginning of May 2024, 23 young people embarked on a solar training programme at the Solar Youth Academy in Cape Town. This pilot group has now graduated the first stage, with internships being provided for each graduate, providing proof that SA finally has a working and sustainable youth training programme with the potential to change lives.
Read more...
Three lessons learned from successful SMEs over the past 27 years
Editor's Choice News
Companies that prioritise employee growth and create a positive work environment tend to have higher employee retention rates and better overall performance.
Read more...
Robbie Venter, former CEO of Altron, passes
Altron Arrow
News
It is with sadness that we report on the passing of the former chief executive and board member of South African technology group Altron, Robert (Robbie) Venter.
Read more...
AI pest detection tool wins Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation
News
Esther Kimani’s early crop pest and disease detection device was selected as the winning innovation for its ability to swiftly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases, reducing crop losses for smallholder farmers.
Read more...
printer friendly version