Can graphene hybrid be used to manipulate electromagnetic radiation?

New research led by Exeter University has shown how the unique
properties of graphene can be used to produce artificial structures that
can control and manipulate electromagnetic radiation over different
wavelengths.
A group of international scientists, led by Exeter's Prof Geoff Nash have
engineered a new hybrid structure - or metamaterial - that's claimed to
possess specific characteristics that aren't present in natural materials.
According to the university, the team combined nano-ribbons of
graphene, where electrons have the ability to oscillate backwards and
forwards, together with a split up ring resonator, which is a form of
antenna.
Careful design of both of these elements contributes to something that interacts
strongly with electromagnetic radiation. In these experiments the team
used light with extended wavelengths showing that these new structure
can be used as a kind of optical switch to interrupt, and switch on and
off, a beam of this light very quickly.
The collaborative international research included Dr Sergey Mikhailov at
the University of Augsburg, Germany, and Prof Jérôme Faist at ETH
Zurich.
In a statement, Prof Geoff Nash, from Exeter University's Department of
Engineering said: “In these novel results we demonstrate a new form of
structure which may be used not just as an exciting test bed to explore
the underlying new science, but that can develop the cornerstone of a variety of
technologically important components.”
The research was carried out within the EU FET Open Project
GOSFEL , which aims to produce a completely new laser source for
applications such as gas sensing.
Prof Nash said: “One of many key characteristics of our structure is so it
has the effectation of focussing the electromagnetic radiation into a location
much smaller than its wavelength.”
“This might potentially cause new methods for undertaking ultra-high
resolution spectroscopy of, for example, bio molecules. Working with
colleagues in Biosciences we are already starting to explore a few of these
effects, with undergraduates from our innovative interdisciplinary
Natural Sciences programme, and postgraduates from the Exeter EPSRC
Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials.”
The research, entitled Highly tunable hybrid metamaterials employing split-
ring resonators strongly coupled to graphene surface plasmons” is
published online in Nature Communications.