New material for ultra-thin lenses makes infrared light visible
Infrared light passes through the metal lens and is converted into violet light by the material and the special surface structures and focused into a focal point. (Image: Ü.Talts / ETH Zurich)
June 2, 2025 – A team of scientists from ETH Zurich has created a tiny Metalensens that can halve the wavelength of incident light. They did this by using a special metal oxide lens material – lithium niobate – and by stamping nanoscale patterns into the material. According to ETHZ, such Metalensens could be used as a security feature on banknotes, for example, or in the manufacture of ultra-thin components for cameras.
