Metamaterial Films by Roll-to-Roll Processing

In this Phase I STTR research program we will demonstrate low-cost and high throughput roll-to-roll processing to fabricate large area metamaterials. This program leverages recent breakthrough in nano-imprinting technology at University of Michigan, our partner in this program. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the nano-imprinting of thin-film, flexible metamaterials with feature sizes down to less than 1 um, and show functional optical properties for the films for wavelengths between 0.3 and 14 microns. The desired physical effects will result from photon-plasmon interactions in very thin, patterned metal-dielectric films deposited on metal foil sheets for scalability and flexibility. These metamaterials will demonstrate the suitability of our nanoimprinting process to produce large-area, flexible films. In Phase II the process would be scaled up to roll to roll processing to produce large area films with desired optical effects on actual Air Force assets.