Pohang University of Science and Technology Professor Rho Jun-suk / Courtesy of the Ministry of Science and ICT
A film no thicker than a fingernail could soon transform smartphones into immersive 3D displays, after Korean researchers unveiled what they describe as the first switchable metalens capable of toggling seamlessly between 2D and 3D viewing.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said that a joint team led by Professor Rho Jun-suk of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), working with Samsung Research’s Visual Technology Team, developed the next-generation optical device capable of dynamically controlling light.
The study was published on Thursday in Nature, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals. In a rare feat, Rho is also listed as a corresponding author on a second paper in the same issue, marking the first time a Korean researcher accomplished two such publications simultaneously.
Unlike conventional lenses, metalenses are built from nanoscale structures that precisely manipulate the phase, amplitude and polarization of light. At just 1.2 millimeters thick, the lens switches function depending on voltage. Without power, it acts as a concave lens, delivering distortion-free 2D images. When voltage is applied, it becomes convex, enabling 3D images with a viewing angle of up to 100 degrees — more than six times wider than existing technologies.
The design overcomes long-standing limitations of glasses-free 3D, including narrow viewing angles and degraded image quality in standard 2D mode.
The lens can be attached directly to smartphone or tablet screens like a sticker, allowing immediate compatibility with existing devices.
Rho said the research demonstrates the practical viability of metalenses as a next-generation display platform.
“This technology opens new possibilities across mobile devices, medical imaging and large-scale displays,” the POSTECH professor noted.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
