Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Abstract Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are an emerging mid‐infrared optical material that exhibits significant potential in nanoscale resonators, lasers, detectors, and sensors due to the strong light‐matter interactions induced by phonon polaritons (PhPs). However, the large‐scale controllable sy...

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Main Authors: Ningqiang Shi, Xiaofei Xiao, Mingyu Zhang, Zhijun Li, Chuncheng Ban, Jinchang Meng, Nannan Shi, Mingyang Wu, Zebo Zheng, Ling Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501908
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author Ningqiang Shi
Xiaofei Xiao
Mingyu Zhang
Zhijun Li
Chuncheng Ban
Jinchang Meng
Nannan Shi
Mingyang Wu
Zebo Zheng
Ling Li
author_facet Ningqiang Shi
Xiaofei Xiao
Mingyu Zhang
Zhijun Li
Chuncheng Ban
Jinchang Meng
Nannan Shi
Mingyang Wu
Zebo Zheng
Ling Li
author_sort Ningqiang Shi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are an emerging mid‐infrared optical material that exhibits significant potential in nanoscale resonators, lasers, detectors, and sensors due to the strong light‐matter interactions induced by phonon polaritons (PhPs). However, the large‐scale controllable synthesis and device applications of BNNTs still face huge challenges. In this study, a substrate‐pretreated and boron source dual‐catalyst infiltrated growth method, and a damage‐free purification method toward the high‐density and aligned BNNT (ABNNT) thin films is developed. The polarization sensitivity and linear dichroism characteristics of BNNTs with a maximum anisotropy ratio of 4.53 in the mid‐infrared and near‐infrared regions are comprehensively verified. The nanotube‐alignment induced permittivity anisotropy outside RB and the near‐isotropic PhP absorption within RB enable a wavelength‐selective polarizer and absorber throughout a broad infrared range. Uniquely, the BNNT polarizer exhibits excellent stability of polarization dichroism under severe bending conditions, demonstrating great potential in flexible and wearable optical devices. This work can initiate the utilization of high‐density BNNT thin films in quantum information processing and high‐resolution infrared imaging applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2198-3844
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-dd9e88ed5fc740028f89a2ed7abe994a2025-08-20T11:56:10ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011230n/an/a10.1002/advs.202501908Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride NanotubesNingqiang Shi0Xiaofei Xiao1Mingyu Zhang2Zhijun Li3Chuncheng Ban4Jinchang Meng5Nannan Shi6Mingyang Wu7Zebo Zheng8Ling Li9MEMS Center Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 ChinaBlackett Laboratory Physics Department Imperial College London London SW7 2AZ UKMEMS Center Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information School of Integrated Circuits Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen 518055 ChinaSchool of Electronic Engineering Heilongjiang University Harbin 150080 ChinaMEMS Center Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information School of Integrated Circuits Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen 518055 ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information School of Integrated Circuits Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen 518055 ChinaState Key Lab Optoelect Mat & Technol Guangdong Prov Key Lab Display Mat & Technol Sch Elect & Informat Technol Sun Yat Sen University Guangzhou 510275 ChinaMEMS Center Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 ChinaAbstract Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are an emerging mid‐infrared optical material that exhibits significant potential in nanoscale resonators, lasers, detectors, and sensors due to the strong light‐matter interactions induced by phonon polaritons (PhPs). However, the large‐scale controllable synthesis and device applications of BNNTs still face huge challenges. In this study, a substrate‐pretreated and boron source dual‐catalyst infiltrated growth method, and a damage‐free purification method toward the high‐density and aligned BNNT (ABNNT) thin films is developed. The polarization sensitivity and linear dichroism characteristics of BNNTs with a maximum anisotropy ratio of 4.53 in the mid‐infrared and near‐infrared regions are comprehensively verified. The nanotube‐alignment induced permittivity anisotropy outside RB and the near‐isotropic PhP absorption within RB enable a wavelength‐selective polarizer and absorber throughout a broad infrared range. Uniquely, the BNNT polarizer exhibits excellent stability of polarization dichroism under severe bending conditions, demonstrating great potential in flexible and wearable optical devices. This work can initiate the utilization of high‐density BNNT thin films in quantum information processing and high‐resolution infrared imaging applications.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501908boron nitride nanotubesflexible polarizerhigh‐densityinfrared polarization dichroismphonon polariton
spellingShingle Ningqiang Shi
Xiaofei Xiao
Mingyu Zhang
Zhijun Li
Chuncheng Ban
Jinchang Meng
Nannan Shi
Mingyang Wu
Zebo Zheng
Ling Li
Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
Advanced Science
boron nitride nanotubes
flexible polarizer
high‐density
infrared polarization dichroism
phonon polariton
title Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
title_full Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
title_fullStr Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
title_full_unstemmed Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
title_short Multifunctional Infrared Polarizer Based on Aligned Growth of High‐Density Boron Nitride Nanotubes
title_sort multifunctional infrared polarizer based on aligned growth of high density boron nitride nanotubes
topic boron nitride nanotubes
flexible polarizer
high‐density
infrared polarization dichroism
phonon polariton
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501908
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