Establishment of Fundamental Technology for Superlenses through the Composite of Block Copolymers and Metal Coils

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35010:Polymer chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Shigeru 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (50262944)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ブロック共重合体 / ミクロ相分離構造 / 光学材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have attempted to create three-dimensional metamaterials by self-organizing block copolymers. We succeeded in producing a block copolymer with a structure to serve as the mold, and we also succeeded in decomposing its microdomain component selectively. Furthermore, by varying the fraction of the constituent block chains, we successfully synthesized multiple samples and investigated the region where the structure is formed, leading to the creation of a phase diagram. It is difficult to attain equilibrated states with three-dimensional structures. Therefore, as a model, we observed the structural changes of a gyroid structure, which is also three-dimensional, with temperature changes. We found that continuous structural changes seen in one- or two-dimensional structures are challenging, and the old structure disappears while a new structure forms by the nucleation and growth mechanism.

Free Research Field

高分子物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

メタマテリアルは1990年台から活発に議論され、理論的には可能とされている。実際、テラヘルツ波や赤外領域においては一部実現されている。しかしながら、可視光領域ではまだ実現されていないが、可能となれば世界初の物質となる。また、その物質を用いたレンズは可視光を用いて原子レベルの構造を観察することを可能とする。これは画期的であり、電子顕微鏡に変わる技術となりうる。