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Published
, Published online: 21 April 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.039
3D printed contact lenses have emerged as promising candidates for advanced ocular applications due to their customizable design and functional versatility. In this study, a novel conformal auxetic-inspired metamaterial ocular disc architecture was developed using digital light processing (DLP), a high-resolution vat photopolymerization technique, and fabricated using an in-house hydrogel formulation. The printed disc was systematically evaluated for its mechanical, optical, and physicochemical performance. Mechanical testing confirmed excellent elasticity and durability, with the hydrated hydrogel exhibiting a tensile modulus of ~0.71 MPa, matching the range of commercial soft contact lenses. Laser profilometry revealed a smooth surface topology essential for user comfort, achieving a root mean square roughness (Rq) of 1.78 µm, a nearly 98% reduction compared to conventionally printed hemispherical lenses. Contact angle measurements (64° hydrated) indicated favorable wettability. Optical characterization exhibited high light transmittance, averaging ~83% across the visible spectrum in the hydrated state. Hydration related properties, including swelling kinetics, water content, and gel fraction, confirmed effective water uptake and retention, supporting oxygen permeability. FTIR spectroscopy validated the chemical integrity of the polymer network, while DSC/TGA analysis confirmed thermal stability up to 300 °C. Furthermore, rheological evaluation indicated a stable viscoelastic profile with notable self-healing behavior. Collectively, this study establishes a 3D printed hydrogel-based conformal metamaterial contact lens platform, offering a promising pathway for the development of next-generation smart ocular devices via additive manufacturing.
Published
, Published online: 06 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.087
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Published
, Published online: 05 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.102
Traditional frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is primarily used for high-precision distance measurements in free space. In this paper, a multifunctional FMCW LiDAR capable of high-precision ranging and multi-parameter sensing is proposed. By detecting echo signals from both free space and optical fibres, 3D imaging and the measurements of diverse physical parameters, including environmental temperature, gas concentrations, and liquid density, can be measured simultaneously. In an experiment, a target at 30 m was imaged with an adjustable resolution spanning 0.3–1.2 cm. Meanwhile, the electrolyte density and temperature of a battery were measured with accuracies of 3×10−5 g/mL and 0.5 °C, respectively. The concentrations of the gases (C2H2, CO2, and CH4), which are critical for monitoring thermal runaway of a battery, were measured with detection limits of 0.07, 48, and 0.56 ppm, respectively. The proposed multifunctional LiDAR exhibits significant application potential in fields such as new-energy vehicles and spacecraft.
Published
, Published online: 05 August 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.088
Being one of the most prominent topics, the development of the optically active devices based on lenses and metasurfaces lacks a robust material basis suitable for the terahertz (THz) range. Among candidates such as graphene and dichalcogenides, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films offer high modulation depth, durability, and scalability, but precise spatial patterning remains challenging. We present a waste-free, one-step, dry patterning approach that combines aerosol chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with spatially controlled aerosol flow clogging via stencil imprinting. Two approaches are demonstrated. In the stencil-free variant, stencil removal after imprinting yields reproducible features >200 μm and near-complete nanotube suppression in clogged regions at pressures above 200 MPa. In the stencil-supported variant, retaining the stencil enhances flow blocking, achieving complete nanotube exclusion at lower pressures (~100 MPa) and enabling finer features approaching laser resolution. The method is validated through two applications: strain sensors with at least threefold improved response than reported values, and a mechanically tunable THz spiral zone plate with focal shifts up to 44% under 12% strain. This imprinting method offers a scalable route to precisely patterned SWCNT films and opens new opportunities for integrating CNT-based patterns into THz optics and electronic devices.
Published
, Published online: 29 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.022
Metasurfaces, flat optical devices built from nanoscale structures, offer powerful and precise control over light. They have enabled applications such as structural color printing by manipulating spectral responses and holography through precise phase control. Integrating these functions into a single metasurface has gained interest for compact multifunctional platforms. However, most existing dual-mode designs suffer from low hologram efficiency, limiting their practical applications in multifunctional optical systems. Here, we present dual-functional metasurfaces that simultaneously enable three-color structural printing under white light illumination and high-efficiency holography under coherent light. Our design employs three distinct meta-atoms, composed of single and double nanorods, to achieve independent spectral and phase modulations. The metasurfaces produce three distinct reflective colors of green, brown, and magenta and achieve numerical conversion efficiency up to 90% at the 640 nm wavelength. The fabricated devices successfully display desired structural colors under white light and reconstruct holographic images with high efficiency under coherent illumination. The devices also demonstrate broadband performance for holography across the visible spectrum. These results confirm the effectiveness of our design in achieving independent and efficient control of color and holography within a single metasurface. This multifunctional capability offers strong potential for applications in anti-counterfeiting and compact optical data storage.
Published
, Published online: 24 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.086
Flexible terahertz (THz) devices are fundamental components of wearable photonics and intelligent communication systems. However, conventional THz devices are affected by information loss or signal interruption due to mechanical deformation, which degrade their information fidelity. Here, we introduce tellurium (Te) nanofilms grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates as a new class of mechanically robust THz modulators that can successfully improve device performances to optimal levels among existing flexible broadband modulators. The ultrafast transient THz photoresponses of two-dimensional Te films remained unchanged even after 1000 bending cycles or at a small bending radius of 3 mm, exhibiting high tolerance to bending deformation. Furthermore, the variations in the pattern recognition accuracy remained within 2% under different bending conditions, indicating its adaptability to various deformation conditions. This prototype lays the foundation for developing intelligent perception elements that operate stably under complex mechanical deformations.
Published
, Published online: 22 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.075
The integration of luminescent nanomaterials into scalable semiconductor platforms is vital for on-chip photonics. This study demonstrates an approach to fabricate fluorescent nanostructures by hybridising carbon dots (CDs) with semiconductor nanowires (NWs) grown on Si. We systematically investigated the photoluminescence of CDs on GaN, GaP, and Si NW hosts and demonstrated the key role of the absorption edge of the host as a practical spectral filter. Our results show that efficient CD excitation is governed by the transparency window of the NW, thereby allowing the precise tailoring of the emission spectrum through rational host selection. This effect has been consistently demonstrated in different materials. By coupling the tuneable chemistry of CDs with the tailored optoelectronics of semiconductor NWs, this study establishes a scalable host-guest architecture for engineering nanoscale light sources to promote applications in integrated photonic circuits and sensing.
Published
, Published online: 22 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.098
Diffraction-limited synchrotron sources place stringent demands on wavefront-preserving X-ray optics. We report a fully in-house, closed-loop pipeline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II that links ion beam figuring, precision ex situ metrology, wavefront simulation, and in situ beam validation. The fabricated elliptical Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors achieved 0.4 nm root-mean-square residual height error. At 12 keV, ptychography measured a 70.5 × 33.1 nm2 (V × H) focal spot using an 8 × 7 µm2 secondary source aperture, consistent with partially coherent Synchrotron Radiation Workshop simulations of 77 × 36 nm2. X-ray fluorescence imaging independently resolved approximately 30 nm features in a Siemens star. Back-propagation of the reconstructed probe further linked the measured wavefront to ex situ surface errors, establishing quantitative closure across fabrication, metrology, simulation, and beamline commissioning.
Published
, Published online: 22 July 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.083
Manufacturing integrated circuits (ICs) using photolithography is the key technology enabling modern electronic devices. As advanced ICs are fabricated in multiple lithography steps, accurate metrology is crucial. For wafer alignment, optical methods are essential as they enable fast and non-invasive measurements. However, the use of optically opaque materials complicates optical metrology on markers in deeper layers. Here we present an optical metrology approach capable of nanometer-level alignment metrology through optically opaque layers. We use ultrashort laser pulses to generate high-frequency ultrasound at picosecond timescales, with which buried metrology markers can be probed. By detecting the ultrasound reflections with a second, time-delayed laser pulse, position information is obtained in an all-optical way. We demonstrate our approach on an alignment grating covered by a 1.3 μm thick layer of amorphous carbon, achieving 15 nm positioning reproducibility in 1 s measurement time, with significant potential for further scaling. This measurement concept will help advance semiconductor manufacturing, by enabling optical wafer metrology on future devices featuring layers of metals and other opaque materials.
Published
, Published online: 18 June 2026
, doi: 10.37188/lam.2026.080
The diffraction limit poses a fundamental challenge to digital mask projection lithography (DMPL) in fabricating subwavelength-scale dense periodic patterns, limiting its application in advanced chip manufacturing. To address this, we present a DMPL platform with a resolution-enhancement strategy combining a digital phase-shifting mask with two-photon polymerisation. The method enables precise control of subwavelength structure distribution while preserving DMPL flexibility. Using alternating phase-shifting modulation through cascaded spatial light modulators under 517 nm femtosecond laser illumination, we achieve near-physical-limit resolution in a single exposure, producing line patterns with a critical linewidth of ~60 nm (0.16 λ/NA) and a single-exposure pitch resolution of ~235 nm (half pitch ~0.32 λ/NA). With a double-exposure strategy, the pitch is further reduced to ~158 nm (half pitch ~0.21 λ/NA), enabling robust sub-diffraction-limit patterning. This approach advances diffraction-limited patterning and offers new possibilities for manufacturing nanophotonic devices and next-generation microelectronic components.
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