Optical properties of aqueous dispersions of diamond nanoparticles

Abstract

Optical metasurfaces demonstrate outstanding capabilities of optical parameters modifications by changes in the structural architecture at the nano-scale level. We demonstrate results of electrophoretic experiments that modify the structure of a metasurface by using diamond nanoparticles with sizes much smaller than the wavelength of light; the nanoparticles are suspended in an aqueous solution and a uniform electric field is applied. The electric field controls the concentration of nanoparticles inside the sub-wavelength apertures and on the top plane of the metasurface. The higher concentration of diamond nanoparticles increases the refractive index of the suspension as well as increasing scattering and absorption. Results of optical material parameter characterization for a wavelength of 512 nm are provided for different concentrations of the diamond nanoparticles dispersions.