Unveiling the future of photonics: Hydrogel innovations pave the way

Photonic devices, crucial in modern technology, manipulate light through films and structures, enhancing functionalities via principles such as interference and resonance. Micro/nanofabrication advances have led to sophisticated designs like photonic crystals and metasurfaces, enabling precise light control. However, these devices frequently lack adaptability after fabrication. Hydrogels, known for their responsive and tunable nature, present a promising solution by merging dynamic optical properties with biocompatibility, addressing the need for post-fabrication adaptability in photonic devices.

In a review published on 01 January 2024, in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, the discussion centers around hydrogels in photonics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the field. The review emphasizes how these hydrogels enable devices to adapt and respond to their environment, promising significant advances in technology and biomedicine.

The review concentrates on harnessing the distinctive properties of hydrogels to develop dynamic photonic devices. Renowned for their deformable nature, hydrogels interact with water molecules through various forces, enabling them to expand and swell. This behavior allows them to modify their optical properties in response to external stimuli, like temperature and pH changes. The research delves into several fabrication techniques, such as photopolymerization and electron beam lithography, to construct hydrogel structures at the nanoscale. Photopolymerization lets hydrogels form films and structures under UV light, while electron beam lithography facilitates the creation of intricate nanostructures by breaking molecular bonds within the hydrogel. These techniques pave the way for hydrogel-based photonic devices capable of substantial, tunable optical alterations. Crafted devices can serve as dynamic optical cavities or nanocavities, reacting to external stimuli and offering enhanced optical responses. This innovative approach marks a new era in photonics, promising devices with unprecedented adaptability and responsiveness.

Professor Junsuk Rho, a leading researcher in the study, states, "The integration of hydrogels into photonics marks a paradigm shift. We're not just tweaking existing technologies; we're reimagining them to be more adaptable, responsive, and integrated with our environment."

This research ushers in a new era in photonics, where devices are not merely passive conduits of light but active participants in their environment. It has unveiled the potential of hydrogels in reshaping the realm of active photonics. This breakthrough is set to revolutionize our interaction with photonic devices, affecting everything from everyday technologies to specialized scientific equipment.

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References

DOI

10.1038/s41378-023-00609-w

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-023-00609-w

Funding information

The Samsung Research Funding & Incubation Center for Future Technology grants (SRFC-IT1901-52) funded by Samsung Electronics; The POSCO-POSTECH-RIST Convergence Research Center program funded by POSCO; The National Research Foundation (NRF) grant (NRF-2022M3C1A3081312) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Korean government. The NRF Ph.D. fellowship (NRF-2022R1A6A3A13066244) funded by the Ministry of Education of the Korean government.

About Microsystems & Nanoengineering

Microsystems & Nanoengineering is an online-only, open access international journal devoted to publishing original research results and reviews on all aspects of Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems from fundamental to applied research. The journal is published by Springer Nature in partnership with the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, supported by the State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology.