Researchers have created a microscopic device that can both detect and control the rapid “dance” of electron spins in antiferromagnetic materials — a leap that could enable a new generation of ultrafast, energy-efficient electronics. Until now, scientists could only detect this quantum behavior using bulky lab equipment — making it hard to imagine practical uses in everyday tech.

Intrinsic dispersion in periodic systems sets a fundamental bound for independent selectivity of resonant angles and wavelengths. This hinders applications requiring concurrent selectivity of angles and wavelengths, such as AR/VR, coherent thermal emission and light detection. Scientists in China proposed a method to on-demand tailor the angle-dependent resonant reflection via radiation directionality in misaligned bilayer metagratings. This strategy enables perfect reflection at a single angle and a single wavelength, overcoming the intrinsic dispersion locking.

The researchers discuss ECLDs based on the research framework of “material-process-application” synergistic optimization. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference for the research and application of ECLDs, and demonstrates the great potential in the field of flexible electronics.