Pixelated Bayer spectral router based on a sparse meta-atom array

It has long been a challenging task to improve the light collection efficiency of conventional image sensors built with color filters that inevitably cause the energy loss of out-of-band photons.Here, we demonstrate a pixelated spectral router based on a sparse meta-atom array, which can efficiently separate incident R (600-700 nm), G (500-600 nm), and B (400-500 nm) band light to the corresponding pixels of a Bayer image sensor, providing over 56% signal enhancement above the traditional color filter scheme.It is enabled by simple compound Si 3 N 4 nanostructures, which are very suitable for massive production.Imaging experiments are conducted to verify the router's potential for real applications.The complementary metaloxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible spectral router scheme is also found to be robust and can be freely adapted to image sensors of various pixel sizes, having great potential in building the new generation of high-performance image sensing components.