Thermal environment-responsive smart metamaterials

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22097
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 28:Nano/micro science and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kanamori Yoshiaki 東北大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (10333858)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 光デバイス / マイクロ・ナノデバイス / メタマテリアル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we proposed a thermal environment-responsive smart metamaterial that can be adjusted to various optical characteristics and conducted empirical research on thermal spectrum control. The metamaterial is composed of laminated structure with “gas (air)” as a dielectric variable nanogap and passively deforms its structure in response to environmental changes and uses the energy of the environment appropriately. A metamaterial combining a cross-structured metal pattern and a bimetal movable structure was prepared, and the optical characteristics were evaluated. It was confirmed that the transmittance changes reversibly in the near-infrared light region while maintaining transparency in the visible light region with respect to changes in the ambient temperature.

Free Research Field

マイクロ・ナノ光学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で提案した熱環境応答型メタマテリアルは、環境の温度に対してパッシブに構造変形するMEMS（Micro Electro Mechanical Systems）構造と、可視光では透明性を維持し、構造変形に応じて近赤外光の透過率を制御するメタマテリアルを組み合わせた全く新しい発想のデバイスである。本研究成果をもとに、従来の材料では不可能であった可視光領域では透明で、かつ外部からのエネルギー供給なしに熱スペクトル特性を環境に応じて切り替える遮熱窓が実現され、近年の地球温暖化やエネルギー安定供給などの問題から求められる省エネルギー化に貢献できるものと期待される。