Widely Tunable, Etch-free Multi-dielectric Fano Metasurfaces in the Visible

Abstract

Fano resonances, characterized by a unique, sharp, and asymmetric spectral line shape arising from the interference between a narrowband discrete resonant state and a broadband continuum state, provide rich opportunities to control and manipulate light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Here, we propose and demonstrate a nanophotonic architecture that integrates a multi-layered dielectric cavity into a one-dimensional grating to achieve an outstanding range of Fano resonance tunability by design, spanning 194 nm across the visible (from 500 to 694 nm), even with an ultra-thin layer of cavity (80 nm thick), offering the potential of highly compact photonic devices. The precise tailoring of the Fano spectral position through the adjustment of the cavity's structural parameters enables strongly localized field accumulation (at a maximum of 26 folds) within the cavity region. Additionally, the proposed architecture allows for bright and saturated structural colors in the visible, promising a route toward advanced digital display and printing technologies. Importantly, the experimental performance achieved with a simple, etch-free fabrication process results in a significant reduction in fabrication complexity and process-induced optical degradation. Our work showcases a robust platform for possible applications in Fano resonance-based low-loss nanolasers, on-chip photonic devices, optical communication components, and next-generation quantum technologies in the visible range.