Muscovite identified as a low-index building block for ultrathin van der Waals photonic components
Researchers have identified muscovite, a common mineral, as an effective low-index material for ultrathin nanophotonic components. This discovery fills a gap in van der Waals materials, enabling more efficient optical devices across ultraviolet and infrared spectrums.
Why it matters
This material could significantly advance the development of next-generation, high-performance photonic devices used in telecommunications and sensing.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Crafting ultrathin all-van-der-Waals nanophotonic components. Credit: Yerevan State University Researchers have demonstrated that a naturally occurring mineral can serve as a low-loss optical material for next-generation broadband all–van der Waals nanophotonic components.
Muscovite, also known as mica, is a van der Waals mineral widely found in rocks and used in a range of industrial applications, yet it may prove to have an unexpected role in the future of nanophotonic components.
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