Dielectric Metasurfaces for Broadband Phase-Contrast Relief-Like Imaging
The visualization of transparent specimens in traditional light microscopy is impeded by insufficient intrinsic contrast, prompting the development of advanced contrast-enhancement methodologies to transmute minute phase discrepancies into detectable amplitude alterations. While existing methods excel in either phase-contrast imaging (contrast-enhanced image of whole objects) or relief-like imaging (deceptive three-dimensional images), it would be of great significance to seamlessly integrate both capabilities in the same device. Here, we propose a novel metasurface-assisted half-side phase-contrast technique capable of simultaneous phase-contrast and relief-like imaging across the visible spectrum, which is realized by introducing a ±π/2 phase shift to a half-side diffracted wave emitted by the objects. Our method showcases successful application to diverse specimens, including a transparent silica disk and a frog egg cell. Our work substantiates high-quality microscopic imaging of various transparent specimens, which has profound implications in cellular biology, materials science, and medical diagnostics.
Authors
- Chengkun Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4009-338X)
- Guangwei Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3023-9632)
- Ming Deng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4916-4877)
- Jianguo Guan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2223-4524)
- Saima Kanwal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5451-6286)
- Zhuochao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5795-5682)
- Jian Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0579-3041)
- Lin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5456-9345)
- Jing Wen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3558-2322)
- Yongzhi Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8946-9136)
Institutions
- University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (CN)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Wuhan University of Technology (CN)
- Shanghai Zhangjiang Laboratory (CN)
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (CN)
- Wuhan University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2024-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03695
- Citations
- 96
- Primary Topic
- Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.32
Funders
- National Research Foundation Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province
- Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality
- National Key Research and Development Program of China
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities