We analyze dispersion properties of layered metal-dielectric structures, which can be considered as a simple example of nanostructured metamaterials. We demonstrate that, in sharp contrast to the results of the theory of effective media, the layered structure demonstrates strong optical nonlocality due to excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. Such nonlocality can be engineered by changing a ratio between the thicknesses of metal and dielectric layers. Importantly, the nonlocality leads to the existence of an additional extraordinary wave that manifests itself in the splitting of the transverse-magnetic polarized beam refracted at an air-metamaterial interface.

Meta-optics based on optically resonant all-dielectric structures is a rapidly developing research area driven by its potential applications for low-loss efficient metadevices. Active, light-emitting subwavelengh nanostructures and metasurfaces are of particular interest for meta-optics, as they offer unique opportunities for novel types of compact light sources and nanolasers. Recently, the study of “halide perovskites” has attracted enormous attention due to their exceptional optical and electrical properties. As a result, this family of materials can provide a prospective platform for modern nanophotonics and meta-optics, allowing us to overcome many obstacles associated with the use of conventional semiconductor materials. Here, we review the recent progress in the field of halide-perovskite meta-optics with the central focus on light-emitting nanoantennas and metasurfaces for the emerging field of “active metadevices.”

In this paper, we study the efficiency of several types of all-dielectric, non-resonant, antireflection, and light-trapping coatings for the enhancement of photovoltaic absorption in thin-film silicon solar cells. We compare the enhancement of the photovoltaic absorption offered by a square array of nano-pillar shaped voids in the dielectric covering of the cell with that granted by a flat blooming layer, and a densely packed array of dielectric nanospheres. We optimize these coatings and show that the newly proposed nanostructure allows a significant increase of the photovoltaic absorption. The dependence of antireflection and light-trapping properties on the angle of incidence is numerically investigated, and it is shown that the array of voids keeps optimal also after averaging over the incidence angles.

We propose the enhancement of the photovoltaic absorption in thin-film solar cells using densely packed arrays (not obviously regular) of non-absorbing submicron or micron-sized dielectric spheres located on top of the cell. The spheres can decrease reflection forming an effective blooming layer. Simultaneously, they can suppress the transmission through the photovoltaic layer transforming the incident radiation into a set of collimated beams. The focusing of the light inside the photovoltaic layer allows enhanced absorption in it leading to the increase of the photovoltaic current. Every sphere focuses the incident wave separately—this mechanism does not require collective effects or resonances and therefore takes place in a wide spectral range. Since the fabrication of such the coating is easy, our light-trapping structure may be cheaper than previously known light-trapping ones and perhaps even than flat anti-reflecting coatings.

We suggest a new type of efficient light-trapping structures for thin-film solar cells based on arrays of planar nanoantennas operating far from their plasmon resonances. The operation principle of our structures relies on the excitation of collective modes of the nanoantenna arrays whose electric field is localized between the adjacent metal elements. We calculate a substantial enhancement of the short-circuit photocurrent for photovoltaic layers as thin as 100–150 nm. We compare our light-trapping structures with conventional anti-reflecting coatings and demonstrate that our design approach is more efficient. We show that it may provide a general background for different types of broadband light-trapping structures compatible with large-area fabrication technologies for thin-film solar cells.