Metasurfaces: tiny tech with big potential

Metasurfaces, ultra-thin films of nanostructures, hold immense promise for manipulating light with unprecedented control. However, their full potential hinges on overcoming the challenge of crafting these intricate patterns at large scales and high resolutions. This review explores the current nanofabrication techniques, including maskless and masked lithography, exploring their strengths and limitations. By understanding these constraints, we can pave the way for advanced nanophotonic applications powered by these light-bending marvels.

Silver Attacks Bacteria, Gets ‘Consumed’

As antibiotic-resistant bacteria become more prevalent, silver has seen steep growth in its use in things like antibacterial coatings. Still, a better understanding can provide clues on how to best apply it. In Chemical Physics Reviews, researchers monitored the interaction of silver nanoparticles with a nearby E. coli culture and found the silver undergoes several dramatic changes. Most notably, the E. coli cells caused substantial transformations in the size and shape of the silver particles.

Nanostructures Modeled on Moth Eyes Effective for Anti-Icing

Researchers have been working for decades on improving the anti-icing performance of functional surfaces and work published in AIP Advances investigates a unique nanostructure, modeled on moth eyes, that has anti-icing properties. Moth eyes are of interest because they have a distinct ice-phobic and transparent surface. The researchers fabricated the moth eye nanostructure on a quartz substrate that was covered with a paraffin layer to isolate it from a cold and humid environment.