Periodic Reporting for period 4 - METAmorphoses (Shapeshifting Metasurfaces for Chemically Selective Augmented Reality)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-04-01 al 2025-03-31
Light plays a central role in modern technology, from fiber-optic communication to medical imaging, laser-based manufacturing, and quantum computing. Yet, despite its versatility, the tools we use to control light are often bulky, rigid, and limited to a fixed function. Traditional optical devices — lenses, mirrors, waveguides — are designed for specific tasks and cannot easily adapt or respond to changing conditions.
The METAmorphoses project was launched to address this limitation by pioneering a new class of optical devices called metasurfaces: ultra-thin, nano-engineered surfaces that can sculpt the flow of light with extreme precision. But more than that, the project asked a bold question: What if these metasurfaces could change over time — adapting their function, reacting to light itself, and even restructuring autonomously?
To realize this vision, the project brought together expertise in nanophotonics, advanced materials, and ultrafast optics. A key focus was the development of photo-responsive materials, including smart polymers and layered crystals, that can reshape their optical properties when illuminated. These were combined with novel optical designs to create metasurfaces that are not only compact and efficient, but also dynamically reconfigurable.
One of the project’s major achievements was the development of self-structuring metasurfaces using azopolymer films — materials that can be rewritten, erased, or re-patterned using light alone. Another breakthrough was the generation of structured light pulses carrying orbital angular momentum that evolves over time, offering new possibilities in high-speed optical communication and particle manipulation. The team also discovered MoOCl2, a new layered material capable of guiding light at the nanoscale with hyperbolic behavior — a property useful for next-generation imaging and sensing technologies.
By the end of the project, METAmorphoses had successfully delivered a series of innovations that push the boundaries of what light-based devices can do. These results lay the groundwork for adaptive optical systems that are flat, compact, and capable of tasks once thought impossible without complex hardware or electronics.
From a societal perspective, the ability to control light more precisely and flexibly has far-reaching implications. It can improve the energy efficiency of optical systems, enhance the resolution of microscopes, increase data transmission in communications, and open new pathways in quantum technologies. By making light a more programmable and responsive tool, METAmorphoses contributes to the future of smarter, faster, and more sustainable photonic systems.
The METAmorphoses project was launched to address this limitation by pioneering a new class of optical devices called metasurfaces: ultra-thin, nano-engineered surfaces that can sculpt the flow of light with extreme precision. But more than that, the project asked a bold question: What if these metasurfaces could change over time — adapting their function, reacting to light itself, and even restructuring autonomously?
To realize this vision, the project brought together expertise in nanophotonics, advanced materials, and ultrafast optics. A key focus was the development of photo-responsive materials, including smart polymers and layered crystals, that can reshape their optical properties when illuminated. These were combined with novel optical designs to create metasurfaces that are not only compact and efficient, but also dynamically reconfigurable.
One of the project’s major achievements was the development of self-structuring metasurfaces using azopolymer films — materials that can be rewritten, erased, or re-patterned using light alone. Another breakthrough was the generation of structured light pulses carrying orbital angular momentum that evolves over time, offering new possibilities in high-speed optical communication and particle manipulation. The team also discovered MoOCl2, a new layered material capable of guiding light at the nanoscale with hyperbolic behavior — a property useful for next-generation imaging and sensing technologies.
By the end of the project, METAmorphoses had successfully delivered a series of innovations that push the boundaries of what light-based devices can do. These results lay the groundwork for adaptive optical systems that are flat, compact, and capable of tasks once thought impossible without complex hardware or electronics.
From a societal perspective, the ability to control light more precisely and flexibly has far-reaching implications. It can improve the energy efficiency of optical systems, enhance the resolution of microscopes, increase data transmission in communications, and open new pathways in quantum technologies. By making light a more programmable and responsive tool, METAmorphoses contributes to the future of smarter, faster, and more sustainable photonic systems.
The METAmorphoses project set out to transform how we control light — not just bending or focusing it, but shaping its structure in space and time using intelligent, flat materials called metasurfaces. Over the course of five years, the research team developed new approaches to design, fabricate, and activate these surfaces, drawing on innovations in optics, materials science, and nanotechnology.
At the start of the project, efforts focused on identifying and characterizing photo-responsive materials capable of changing shape or stiffness when exposed to light. One major outcome was the development of reconfigurable metasurfaces made from azopolymer films, which can be written and erased using holographic light patterns. These materials allow optical functions — like diffraction or focusing — to be reprogrammed without any moving parts.
In parallel, the team created static metasurfaces capable of shaping light beams in new and powerful ways. These ultra-thin devices can manipulate not only the intensity of light, but also its polarization and orbital angular momentum — giving rise to highly structured optical fields useful in imaging, communication, and quantum science. Several new designs were proposed and demonstrated, including devices that produce vortex beams with extreme precision.
A central achievement of the project was the demonstration of structured light pulses that evolve over time, carrying orbital angular momentum that changes during propagation — a phenomenon known as self-torque. This breakthrough opens the door to encoding information in the twisting structure of light at ultrafast timescales, and was recognized as a major advance in the field.
The project also led to the discovery of MoOCl2, a new layered material with exotic optical properties. It naturally supports hyperbolic polaritons — tightly confined light waves — making it a strong candidate for next-generation imaging and sensing technologies.
To share these results, the team published more than 20 open-access scientific papers in major international journals, including Nature Photonics, Science Advances, and Nature Communications. The work was also presented at international conferences, workshops, and public lectures. New collaborations were initiated with both academic and industrial partners, and some of the methods developed during the project are already being adopted in related fields.
In summary, METAmorphoses has achieved its main goal: to lay the scientific foundation for programmable optical surfaces that are thin and adaptive. Its results have advanced fundamental knowledge and opened new avenues for real-world applications in photonics, information technologies, and beyond.
At the start of the project, efforts focused on identifying and characterizing photo-responsive materials capable of changing shape or stiffness when exposed to light. One major outcome was the development of reconfigurable metasurfaces made from azopolymer films, which can be written and erased using holographic light patterns. These materials allow optical functions — like diffraction or focusing — to be reprogrammed without any moving parts.
In parallel, the team created static metasurfaces capable of shaping light beams in new and powerful ways. These ultra-thin devices can manipulate not only the intensity of light, but also its polarization and orbital angular momentum — giving rise to highly structured optical fields useful in imaging, communication, and quantum science. Several new designs were proposed and demonstrated, including devices that produce vortex beams with extreme precision.
A central achievement of the project was the demonstration of structured light pulses that evolve over time, carrying orbital angular momentum that changes during propagation — a phenomenon known as self-torque. This breakthrough opens the door to encoding information in the twisting structure of light at ultrafast timescales, and was recognized as a major advance in the field.
The project also led to the discovery of MoOCl2, a new layered material with exotic optical properties. It naturally supports hyperbolic polaritons — tightly confined light waves — making it a strong candidate for next-generation imaging and sensing technologies.
To share these results, the team published more than 20 open-access scientific papers in major international journals, including Nature Photonics, Science Advances, and Nature Communications. The work was also presented at international conferences, workshops, and public lectures. New collaborations were initiated with both academic and industrial partners, and some of the methods developed during the project are already being adopted in related fields.
In summary, METAmorphoses has achieved its main goal: to lay the scientific foundation for programmable optical surfaces that are thin and adaptive. Its results have advanced fundamental knowledge and opened new avenues for real-world applications in photonics, information technologies, and beyond.
When METAmorphoses began, the idea of creating materials that could dynamically reshape light — adjusting their optical function like living systems — was ambitious and speculative. Today, that vision is becoming reality. Over five years, the project advanced the frontiers of nanophotonics and light–matter interaction, fundamentally shifting how we think about controlling light.
More than 20 open-access publications emerged, many in leading journals such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, Science Advances, and ACS Nano. These works document key achievements, including the creation of self-torqued light pulses — beams carrying orbital angular momentum evolving in time — with applications in optical communication and particle control.
The team developed reconfigurable metasurfaces using photo-responsive polymers, enabling surfaces that can be rewritten by light alone — flat, compact elements capable of switching functions without moving parts.
A standout discovery was MoOCl2, a van der Waals crystal supporting in-plane hyperbolic plasmon polaritons in the visible range. Published in Nature Communications, this material enables subwavelength light confinement without artificial structuring — a breakthrough for imaging and sensing.
The team also reported the deterministic generation of tunable quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Using ion implantation and thermal annealing, researchers achieved precise control over emission properties — shifting photoluminescence peaks by over 200 nm, far beyond traditional methods, and opening paths toward scalable single-photon sources for quantum technologies.
Alongside these advances, METAmorphoses developed novel tools for space–time beam shaping and nanoscale diagnostics of light-induced mechanical effects — tools now adopted by other groups.
In its final phase, the project not only achieved its intended goals but expanded the definition of metasurfaces and light-structuring platforms, leaving a lasting impact on optics, quantum science, and reconfigurable photonic technologies.
More than 20 open-access publications emerged, many in leading journals such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, Science Advances, and ACS Nano. These works document key achievements, including the creation of self-torqued light pulses — beams carrying orbital angular momentum evolving in time — with applications in optical communication and particle control.
The team developed reconfigurable metasurfaces using photo-responsive polymers, enabling surfaces that can be rewritten by light alone — flat, compact elements capable of switching functions without moving parts.
A standout discovery was MoOCl2, a van der Waals crystal supporting in-plane hyperbolic plasmon polaritons in the visible range. Published in Nature Communications, this material enables subwavelength light confinement without artificial structuring — a breakthrough for imaging and sensing.
The team also reported the deterministic generation of tunable quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Using ion implantation and thermal annealing, researchers achieved precise control over emission properties — shifting photoluminescence peaks by over 200 nm, far beyond traditional methods, and opening paths toward scalable single-photon sources for quantum technologies.
Alongside these advances, METAmorphoses developed novel tools for space–time beam shaping and nanoscale diagnostics of light-induced mechanical effects — tools now adopted by other groups.
In its final phase, the project not only achieved its intended goals but expanded the definition of metasurfaces and light-structuring platforms, leaving a lasting impact on optics, quantum science, and reconfigurable photonic technologies.