Conventional spectrometer designs necessitate a compromise between their resolution and sensitivity, especially as device and detector dimensions are scaled down. Here, we report on a miniaturizable spectrometer platform where light throughput onto the detector is instead enhanced as the resolution is increased. This planar, CMOS-compatible platform is based around metasurface encoders designed to exhibit photonic bound states in the continuum, where operational range can be altered or extended simply through adjusting geometric parameters. This system can enhance photon collection efficiency by up to two orders of magnitude versus conventional designs; we demonstrate this sensitivity advantage through ultralow-intensity fluorescent and astrophotonic spectroscopy. This work represents a step forward for the practical utility of spectrometers, affording a route to integrated, chip-based devices that maintain high resolution and SNR without requiring prohibitively long integration times.

In this study, the high-efficiency phase control Si metasurfaces are investigated based on aperiodic nanoarrays unlike widely-used period structures, the aperiodicity of which providing additional freedom to improve metasurfaces’ performance. Firstly, the phase control mechanism of Huygens nanoblocks is demonstrated, particularly the internal electromagnetic resonances and the manipulation of effective electrical/magnetic polarizabilities. Then, a group of high-transmission Si nanoblocks with 2π phase control is sought by sweeping the geometrical parameters. Finally, several metasurfaces, such as grating and parabolic lens, are numerically realized by the nanostructures with high efficiency. The conversion efficiency of the grating reaches 80%, and the focusing conversion efficiency of the metalens is 99.3%. The results show that the high-efficiency phase control metasurfaces can be realized based on aperiodic nanoarrays, i.e., additional design freedom.

Miniaturized spectrometers have significantly advanced real-time analytical capabilities in fields such as environmental monitoring, healthcare diagnostics, and industrial quality control by enabling precise on-site spectral analysis. However, achieving high sensitivity and spectral resolution within compact devices remains a significant challenge, particularly when detecting low-concentration analytes or subtle spectral variations critical for chemical and molecular analysis. This study introduces an innovative approach employing guided-mode resonance filters (GMRFs) to address these limitations. Functioning similarly to notch filters, GMRFs selectively block specific spectral bands while allowing others to pass, maximizing energy extraction from incident light and enhancing spectral encoding. Our design incorporates narrow band-stop filters, which are essential for accurate spectrum reconstruction, resulting in improved resolution and sensitivity. Our spectrometer delivers a spectral resolution of 0.8 nm over a range of 370–810 nm. It achieves sensitivity values that are more than ten times greater than those of conventional grating spectrometers during fluorescence spectroscopy of mouse jejunum. This enhanced sensitivity and resolution are particularly beneficial for chemical and biological applications, facilitating the detection of trace analytes in complex matrices. Furthermore, the spectrometer’s compatibility with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology enables scalable and cost-effective production, fostering broader adoption in chemical analysis, materials science, and biomedical research. This study underscores the transformative potential of the GMRF-based spectrometer as an innovative tool for advancing chemical and interdisciplinary analytical applications.

The developed four-channel spectral sensor demonstrated exceptional performance in identifying adulterated wines, exceeding that of models based on high-resolution spectrometer data.

Three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic metamaterials have become a trend in the application of nanophotonic devices. In this paper, a convenient and inexpensive method for the design of 3D multilayer plasmonic metamaterials is constructed using a one-step self-shielded reactive-ion-etching process (OSRP) and a thermal evaporation system, which provides an efficient and low-cost method for the preparation of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. The near-field enhancement of the 3D plasmonic metamaterials provides highly efficient electromagnetic resonance, and highly sensitive and uniform SERS sensing capabilities. The SERS detection results of rhodamine B (Rh. B) and rhodamine 6G (R6G) on this substrate show that the detection limit could reach 10^–13 mol/L, and the signal could give expression to excellent uniform stability. The results show that high sensitivity and high robustness SERS substrates can be prepared with high efficiency and low cost.