Printed optical metamaterials composed of embedded silver nanoparticles for flexible applications.

For development of next-generation light control, a simple manufacturing technology to produce flexible metamaterials is a key component. Here, we report development of a printing method involving combination of a thermal nanoimprint method and a squeegeeing method, and demonstrate printed optical metamaterials made of commercially available ink consisting of silver nanoparticles. Optical evaluations of printed dipole resonators indicate dipole resonances corresponding to the structure lengths; these resonances are observed at wavelengths of 765-1346 nm. In particular, we report the important finding that, in metamaterials strongly affected by their constituent materials, a metamaterial structure made of the ink exhibits optical properties comparable to those produced by a vacuum deposition process.