The notion of artificial electromagnetic materials (AEMs) was conceived over a century ago; fabricating arrays of conducting objects within a nonconducting matrix can result in a composite material that achieves bespoke electromagnetic properties. The vital prerequisite for the macroscopic composite is that it possesses a periodic structure with active features of dimensions and lattice spacing much smaller than the length of the electromagnetic wave (Figure 4a). Indeed, if the size of the active features is sufficiently small, then these may act as an effective medium; i.e., the electromagnetic wave will experience the material as a monolithic entity. Examples of AEMs include, among other examples, materials with negative refractive indices and photonic crystals. The 1940s–1970s saw the accelerated development of AEMs in the microwave region (wavelengths of 30–0.1 cm), but until recently AEMs in the optical regime (400–700 nm), also known as optical metamaterials, were unmanufacturable. However, such materials are of considerable interest as they open the door to new ways of manipulating light, providing functions such as enhanced imaging capability or invisibility cloaks.

DNA nanotechnology has a plethora of applications in photonics which draw upon the nanoscale patterning and precise spatial arrangement of EM active features that can be achieved. Your PhD will straddle biophysics and electromagnetics, you will achieve experimental excellence across DNA nanotechnologies, AFM, optical characterization, and possibly even EM modelling.

More background is available by contacting Prof. Alistair Elfick.