IMAGE: (Left) SEM image of the metamaterial absorber developed by KIMM and UNIST. Top view shows cross-shaped antenna. (Center) Side view of the microstructure of the metamaterial absorber... view more Credit: The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) A local research team, comprised of members of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials(KIMM) under the Ministry of Science and ICT and UNIST, developed a metamaterial absorber that significantly enhances the detection of harmful substances or biomolecules, and published their results in Small Methods. The joint research team led by Principal Researcher Dr. Joo-Yun Jung of the Nano-Convergence Mechanical Systems Research Division at KIMM and Professor Jongwon Lee of UNIST developed a metamaterial that enhances infrared absorption spectroscopy through 100-fold amplification of detection signals. The proposed metamaterial is a special functional material with vertical nanogaps of a smaller size than infrared wavelength.