Cross-Wavelength Hierarchical Metamaterials Enabled for Trans-Scale Molecules Detection Simultaneously

Metamaterials have attracted increasing attention in sensing applications. However, the critical feature sizes of meta-atom span several orders of magnitude in length scale, almost all the metamaterials are designed to operate at limited bands. It is challenging for a single type of meta-atom with ultra-broadband adaptability. Inspired by the natural hierarchical architectures, herein, the authors introduce a new constructing scheme of cross-wavelength hierarchical metamaterials with a single type of meta-atom that can realize enhancement of terahertz (THz) resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) at the same time. By combining multiple subwavelength structures at different hierarchical levels into a single meta-atom, the obtained metamaterial can operate in two frequencies and realize multiple functionalities. Armed with this hierarchical metamaterial, detecting analytes as small as sub-nanoscale chemical molecules or as big as microscale biomolecules simultaneously can be realized in one single metamaterial for the first time. As a proof-of-concept example, a smart sensory packaging is developed, which allowed them to real-time monitor the kinetic growth of pathogenic bacteria and their metabolites in food without opening the packaging. They believe that their work will provide a valuable example that satisfies the unmet need for multiscale functional meta-devices.