Nanoprinted 3D Structured Surfaces: A Novel Platform for Advanced Polarization Control in Nanophotonics and for Liquid Crystal Research

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus A. Schmidt
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 572788072

Liquid crystals (LCs) are anisotropic fluids that enable dynamic control of light, widely used in display technologies and increasingly in integrated photonics for tuning functionalities. Their performance crucially depends on molecular alignment, governed by surface anchoring. Here, nanoscale surface structuring offers new possibilities for tailoring this alignment, thus enabling precise polarization control in optical devices. Nanophotonics, in turn, focuses on manipulating light at subwavelength scales through engineered structures such as phase-only holograms and metasurfaces. While holograms lack efficient polarization shaping capabilities, metasurfaces can provide full control but often rely on specific input polarisation states and face efficiency limitations. Therefore, integrating precise and tunable polarization control into nanophotonic systems remains a key challenge—and a gateway to next-generation devices. This project aims to develop and investigate a novel photonic platform that integrates nanoprinted 3D structured surfaces with LCs for advanced polarization control in nanophotonics and for fundamental LC research. By combining hierarchically nanostructured polymer surfaces with precise nanoscale grooves and microscale 3D architectures, the project introduces a new approach for aligning LC molecules within compact, multifunctional photonic systems. Due to the flexibility of 3D nanoprinting, these nanoprinted surfaces allow for monolithic integration with nanophotonic elements such as metasurfaces and phase-only holograms and can be further functionalized with transparent electrodes for electro-optic modulation. The proposed concept will be explored for its ability to generate complex light states, implement polarization-sensitive beam-shaping functionalities, and dynamically tune optical fields. In doing so, the project addresses a persistent challenge in nanophotonics: integrating tunable polarization control into miniaturized photonic environments. Simultaneously, it establishes a new platform for studying LC behavior in confined environments, opening pathways for fundamental investigations into LC alignment. The overarching goal is to bridge nanophotonics and LC science, offering a reconfigurable and scalable platform for future integrated photonic applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants