{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T08:57:07Z","timestamp":1790845027335,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790812800000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-029"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790812800000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-037"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790812800000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-045"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008859","name":"Fuzhou University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["XRC-23001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["XRC-23001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008859","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["22302043"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["22302043"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["52275096"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52275096"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Optically tunable dynamic terahertz (THz) metamaterials hold significant application prospects in real-time THz modulation, high-speed communications, intelligent sensing, and nondestructive testing. However, existing optically modulated THz metamaterials commonly face critical bottlenecks such as limited photosensitive material systems, complex fabrication processes, stringent high-intensity excitation conditions, and poor universality of device architectures. To address these issues, we propose the narrow-bandgap PbTe semiconductor as a photosensitive dielectric layer for constructing optically tunable THz metamaterials. The PbTe thin film was fabricated via facile and cost-effctive electron beam evaporation and incorporated as dielectric layers, with quartz substrates underneath and metallic resonator arrays of various materials and geometries constructed on top, thereby forming complete THz metamaterial architectures. Experimental results show that owing to the narrow bandgap of PbTe at approximately 1.12 eV, significant THz modulation can be achieved with extremely low optical excitation density of 12.2 mW\/cm2, which is far below the natural solar intensity. Combined photocurrent spectroscopy, Mott Schottky analysis, and Drude\u2013Smith model fitting elucidate that the increase in photoinduced carrier concentration and the decrease in relaxation time jointly induce an increase in the real part and a decrease in the imaginary part of the complex permittivity of PbTe, which constitute the microscopic physical mechanism underlying the optically induced impedance mismatch and enhanced phase delay. More importantly, regardless of the material composition (Au\/Cu) or geometry (square-shape\/cross-shape) of the metallic resonators, the same optical modulation trend remains robust, consistently exhibiting enhanced impedance mismatch, increased reflectivity, reduced absorptance, and improved phase-delay capability. Furthermore, increasing the thickness of the PbTe dielectric layer can also further enhances the modulation depth of these effects, fully demonstrating its excellent universality and design flexibility. This work presents an innovative strategy of employing PbTe semiconductors to construct optically tunable terahertz metamaterials, which can serve as an optical functional module that imparts dynamic tunability to arbitrary THz metamaterials, featuring excellent universality, low energy consumption, and high modulation depth, holding significant potential for applications in photoresponsive terahertz devices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.6c12935","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T05:05:49Z","timestamp":1790831149000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Photosensitive PbTe Dielectric Films as Universal Functional Modules for Optically Tunable Terahertz Metamaterials"],"prefix":"10.1021","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-4751-0337","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Fuwei","family":"Sun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ying","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jielun","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pengcheng","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rui","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yujie","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2277-1749","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Yi","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chenglong","family":"Guan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8999-2701","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Shuncong","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fuzhou University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]},{"name":"Minjiang University , , ,","place":["Fuzhou, P. R. China, 350108"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"316","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"2026100101012790900_cit1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"967","DOI":"10.1109\/COMST.2022.3143454","article-title":"Seven Defining Features of Terahertz (THz) Wireless Systems: A Fellowship of Communication and Sensing","volume":"24","author":"Chaccour","year":"2022","journal-title":"IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026100101012790900_cit2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7010","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-023-42845-8","article-title":"Efficient ultrafast field-driven spin current generation for spintronic terahertz frequency conversion","volume":"14","author":"Ilyakov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"issue":"3","key":"2026100101012790900_cit3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"031423","DOI":"10.1063\/5.0267090","article-title":"Extraordinary three-state terahertz transient conductivity switching at room temperature in multi-band nickelates for high-speed communication","volume":"12","author":"Kumar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Rev."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1109\/TIM.2023.3318676","article-title":"Sensing and Nondestructive Testing Applications of Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging Systems: State-of-the-Art and State-of-the-Practice","volume":"72","author":"Nsengiyumva","year":"2023","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2023.131427","article-title":"Terahertz Non-destructive testing and imaging of corrosion in coated steel plates","volume":"385","author":"Jiang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026100101012790900_cit6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/bios14010003","article-title":"Terahertz Metamaterials for Biosensing Applications: A Review","volume":"14","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biosensors"},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2021.113336","article-title":"Label-free terahertz microfluidic biosensor for sensitive DNA detection using graphene-metasurface hybrid structures","volume":"188","author":"Zhou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mattod.2019.08.002","article-title":"Terahertz plasmonics: The rise of toroidal metadevices towards immunobiosensings","volume":"32","author":"Ahmadivand","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mater. Today"},{"issue":"7","key":"2026100101012790900_cit9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2675","DOI":"10.1109\/JSEN.2018.2889884","article-title":"Security Imaging for Multi-Target Screening Based on Adaptive Scene Segmentation With Terahertz Radar","volume":"19","author":"Gui","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Sens. J."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtnano.2025.100570","article-title":"Progress and prospect of terahertz detectors based on two-dimensional materials","volume":"29","author":"Niu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mater. Today Nano"},{"issue":"35","key":"2026100101012790900_cit11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.202000250","article-title":"Metamaterials for Enhanced Optical Responses and their Application to Active Control of Terahertz Waves","volume":"32","author":"Lee","year":"2020","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"issue":"26","key":"2026100101012790900_cit12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3438","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201290159","article-title":"Metamaterials: Reversibly Stretchable and Tunable Terahertz Metamaterials with Wrinkled Layouts (Adv. Mater. 26\/2012)","volume":"24","author":"Lee","year":"2012","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbon.2020.03.001","article-title":"Graphene-enabled tunable multifunctional metamaterial for dynamical polarization manipulation of broadband terahertz wave","volume":"163","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Carbon"},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbon.2020.12.001","article-title":"Terahertz absorption modulator with largely tunable bandwidth and intensity","volume":"174","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Carbon"},{"issue":"39","key":"2026100101012790900_cit15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.202507534","article-title":"A GaN Schottky Barrier Diode-Based Terahertz Metasurface for High-Precision Phase Control and High-Speed Beam Scanning","volume":"37","author":"Yu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.optmat.2024.115045","article-title":"Single-layer graphene-based electrically-magnetically tunable multi-mode and broadband terahertz absorber: A comprehensive study","volume":"149","author":"Mahesh","year":"2024","journal-title":"Opt. Mater."},{"issue":"13","key":"2026100101012790900_cit17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2553","DOI":"10.1515\/nanoph-2022-0812","article-title":"Electrically tunable THz graphene metasurface wave retarders","volume":"12","author":"Park","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nanophotonics"},{"issue":"42","key":"2026100101012790900_cit18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15400","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.nanolett.5c04256","article-title":"Nanoscale Phase-Change Switch Based on Molybdenum Ditelluride for Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communication","volume":"25","author":"Wu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"issue":"36","key":"2026100101012790900_cit19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47477","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.4c08011","article-title":"Significant Enhancement in THz Emission and Piezoelectricity in Atomically Thin Nb-Doped MoS2","volume":"16","author":"Dhakar","year":"2024","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"issue":"7","key":"2026100101012790900_cit20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"622","DOI":"10.1038\/s41566-023-01197-x","article-title":"Ultrathin MXene assemblies approach the intrinsic absorption limit in the 0.5\u201310 THz band","volume":"17","author":"Zhao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat. Photonics"},{"issue":"12","key":"2026100101012790900_cit21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1944","DOI":"10.1002\/adom.201600270","article-title":"Powerful and Tunable THz Emitters Based on the Fe\/Pt Magnetic Heterostructure","volume":"4","author":"Yang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Adv. Opt. Mater."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026100101012790900_cit22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/advs.202103229","article-title":"Phonon-Related Monochromatic THz Radiation and its Magneto-Modulation in 2D Ferromagnetic Cr2Ge2Te6","volume":"9","author":"Cheng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv. Sci."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026100101012790900_cit23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmat.2025.101068","article-title":"Observation of tunable terahertz optical response in nanoscale lithium ferrite driven by magnetic field and laser","volume":"11","author":"Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Materiomics."},{"issue":"7","key":"2026100101012790900_cit24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adom.201700877","article-title":"Mechanical Terahertz Modulation Based on Single-Layered Graphene","volume":"6","author":"Cheng","year":"2018","journal-title":"Adv. Opt. Mater."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.34133\/research.0274","article-title":"High-Efficiency Dynamic Terahertz Deflector Utilizing a Mechanically Tunable Metasurface","volume":"6","author":"Sun","year":"2023","journal-title":"Research"},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161255","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2019.2950729","article-title":"A Novel Temperature Controlled Broadband Metamaterial Absorber for THz Applications","volume":"7","author":"Su","year":"2019","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"issue":"27","key":"2026100101012790900_cit27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8185","DOI":"10.1039\/C8TC05759A","article-title":"Direct-writing of vanadium dioxide\/polydimethylsiloxane three-dimensional photonic crystals with thermally tunable terahertz properties","volume":"7","author":"Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. C"},{"issue":"36","key":"2026100101012790900_cit28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adom.202402010","article-title":"Nanometric Ge Films for Ultrafast Modulation of THz Waves with Flexible Metasurface","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv. Opt. Mater."},{"issue":"44","key":"2026100101012790900_cit29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/smll.202104275","article-title":"Optically Controlled Ultrafast Terahertz Metadevices with Ultralow Pump Threshold","volume":"17","author":"Lou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Small"},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2025.165689","article-title":"Vanadium dioxide-doped perovskite heterojunction for terahertz optical modulation","volume":"520","author":"Xiao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"issue":"8","key":"2026100101012790900_cit31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/lpor.202301265","article-title":"Optically Tunable Ultrafast Broadband Terahertz Polarimetric Device Using Nonvolatile Phase-Change Material","volume":"18","author":"Lai","year":"2024","journal-title":"Laser Photonics Rev."},{"issue":"11","key":"2026100101012790900_cit32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/lpor.202300482","article-title":"On-Chip Non-Volatile Reconfigurable THz Varifocal Metalens","volume":"17","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Laser Photonics Rev."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100473","article-title":"Two-dimensional materials toward Terahertz optoelectronic device applications","volume":"51","author":"Shi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Photochem. Photobiol., C"},{"issue":"36","key":"2026100101012790900_cit34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4687","DOI":"10.1007\/s11434-013-6093-7","article-title":"Research of the terahertz dual-band notch filter based on FSS structures","volume":"58","author":"Zhang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Chin. Sci. Bull."},{"issue":"12","key":"2026100101012790900_cit35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3633","DOI":"10.1021\/acsphotonics.1c01291","article-title":"Dynamically Tunable Terahertz Emission Enabled by Anomalous Optical Phonon Responses in Lead Telluride","volume":"8","author":"Guzelturk","year":"2021","journal-title":"ACS Photonics"},{"issue":"11","key":"2026100101012790900_cit36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings13111855","article-title":"Thickness-Dependent Terahertz Permittivity of Epitaxially Grown PbTe Thin Films","volume":"13","author":"Kawahala","year":"2023","journal-title":"Coatings"},{"issue":"47","key":"2026100101012790900_cit37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adfm.202304523","article-title":"Limitations of the Tauc Plot Method","volume":"33","author":"Klein","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adv. Funct. Mater."},{"issue":"15","key":"2026100101012790900_cit38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1103\/PhysRevB.64.155106","article-title":"Classical generalization of the Drude formula for the optical conductivity","volume":"64","author":"Smith","year":"2001","journal-title":"Phys. Rev. B"},{"issue":"8","key":"2026100101012790900_cit39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/lpor.202502004","article-title":"Highly Efficient Ultrafast Terahertz Modulation Enabled by Unconventional Carrier Dynamics in HgTe Semimetals","volume":"20","author":"Suo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Laser Photonics Rev."},{"issue":"5","key":"2026100101012790900_cit40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/nano13050795","article-title":"Optically Controlling Broadband Terahertz Modulator Based on Layer-Dependent PtSe(2) Nanofilms","volume":"13","author":"Su","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nanomaterials"},{"issue":"30","key":"2026100101012790900_cit41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8200","DOI":"10.1364\/AO.58.008200","article-title":"Optically controlled ultrafast terahertz switching in a CdTe nanostructure thin film","volume":"58","author":"Zhang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Appl. Opt."},{"key":"2026100101012790900_cit42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"718","DOI":"10.1016\/j.optmat.2017.09.023","article-title":"Active terahertz wave modulator based on molybdenum disulfide","volume":"73","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Opt. Mater."}],"container-title":["ACS Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1021\/acsami.6c12935","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"unspecified"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/aamick\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1021\/acsami.6c12935\/68721482\/am-2026-129356.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/aamick\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1021\/acsami.6c12935\/68721482\/am-2026-129356.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T08:12:13Z","timestamp":1790842333000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/aamick\/article\/doi\/10.1021\/acsami.6c12935\/5443092\/Photosensitive-PbTe-Dielectric-Films-as-Universal"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"references-count":42,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsami.6c12935","relation":{},"ISSN":["1944-8244","1944-8252"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1944-8244","type":"print"},{"value":"1944-8252","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]}}}