(September 22, 2015) Researchers
at Swinburne University of Technology, collaborating with Monash University,
have developed an ultrathin, flat, ultra-lightweight graphene oxide optical
lens with unprecedented flexibility.
The ultrathin lens enables potential applications in on-chip
nanophotonics and improves the conversion process of solar cells. It also opens
up new avenues in:
* non-invasive 3D
biomedical imaging
* photonic chips
* aerospace photonics
* micromachines
* laser tweezing –
the process of using lasers to trap tiny particles.
Optical lenses are indispensable components in almost all
aspects of technology including imaging, sensing, communications, and medical
diagnosis and treatment.
The rapid development in nano-optics and on-chip photonic
systems has increased the demand for ultrathin flat lenses with
three-dimensional subwavelength focusing capability – the ability to see
details of an object smaller than 200 nanometres.
Recent breakthroughs in nanophotonics have led to the
development of a number of ultrathin flat lens concepts, however their
real-life application is limited due to their complex design, narrow
operational bandwidth and time consuming manufacturing processes.
Lead authors PhD
candidate Xiaorui Zheng and Associate Professor Baohua Jia.
“Our lens concept has a 3D subwavelength capability that is
30 times more efficient, able to tightly focus broadband light from the visible
to the near infrared, and offers a simple and low-cost manufacturing method,”
research leader in nanophotonics at Swinburne’s Centre for Micro-Photonics
(CMP), Associate Professor Baohua Jia, said.
The researchers produced a film that is 300 times thinner
than a sheet of paper by converting graphene oxide film to reduced graphene
oxide through a photoreduction process.