Functional Metasurfaces: A New Dimension of Innovation
Surfaces are the interface between material and world. Friction, wear, light guidance, wettability, contact resistance - none of these phenomena originate in the bulk of a material, but at its surface. Functional Metasurfaces take this a decisive step further: rather than generating properties through coatings or chemical treatment, they are created by precisely programmed geometric structures at the micro- and nanometer scale directly within the base material – permanent, chemistry-free, multifunctional, and inspired by nature.
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The prefix “Meta” does not denote an absolute size regime, but a scale-relative structural organization: the characteristic structural dimensions lie below the relevant physical interaction length of the target phenomenon - be it the wavelength of light, the contact geometry of a tribological pair, or the dimensions of a microorganism. Function arises from geometry - not from material properties.
Until now, functional metasurfaces remained largely an academic subject: manufacturing processes such as lithographic systems are complex and often prohibitively expensive for broad industrial application. SurFunction solves this problem. The ELIPSYS® technology makes the deterministic generation of functional metasurfaces at industrial speeds and quality levels possible for the first time, opening an entirely new dimension of industrial product development and process optimization.
ELIPSYS®: Light as the Tool of Surface Programming
The technological core of SurFunction is Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP): multiple coherent laser beams are superimposed; the resulting interference pattern writes periodic micro- and nanostructures directly into the material surface - maskless, reproducible, material-independent. The structural period is precisely determined by wavelength and interference angle.
With ELIPSYS® (Extended Laser Interference Patterning System), SurFunction has evolved DLIP into a complete industrial platform: interference-based optics, process control, quality assurance, and integration modules combined into a scalable overall system. Unlike point-by-point laser processes, structuring is performed area-simultaneously – achieving correspondingly high throughput and industrial reproducibility.
“With our globally leading ELIPSYS® platform, we make light the decisive tool of surface programming. We offer a powerful 'Surface Operating System' for the generation of functional metasurfaces“ - Dr. Dominik Britz, CEO SurFunction
ZEISS Partnership
The collaboration combines complementary world-class capabilities: SurFunction contributes the ELIPSYS® platform and its technological IP; ZEISS brings systems expertise, technology infrastructure, quality assurance, and global market access. ZEISS has identified DLIP and ELIPSYS® as strategically relevant technologies for future product generations in areas including:
Precision optics and photonics
Medical technology and life sciences
Metrology and industrial automation
Consumer optics and automotive sensor technology
Semiconductor environment
The partnership envisages the joint further development of the ELIPSYS® platform in relevant application fields, its integration into production lines, and its commercialization in the market.
„The combination of interference-based laser structuring on the basis of DLIP with our systems and technology expertise opens new degrees of freedom in optical and functional surface design.“ -
Dr. Kai Wicker, Head of ZEISS Innovation Hub Dresden & Head of Innovation Management Beyond at ZEISS
Broad Industrial Application Fields - Global Potential
Functional metasurfaces address a wide range of industrial challenges that have historically been solved through coatings, chemistry, or material substitution – frequently at the cost of environmental risk, durability limitations, and cost disadvantages. ELIPSYS® opens alternatives via structural geometry:
Optics & Photonics: Anti-reflection, light guidance, and wavelength selectivity without thin-film coatings
Tribology: Friction and wear reduction in mechanical engineering, drivetrain technology, and precision manufacturing
Wettability Control: Hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, anti-fouling – as a PFAS-free alternative
Electrical Contacts: Contact optimization for connectors, sensors, and power electronics
Thermal Management: Efficiency gains through structure-optimized heat transfer
Medical Technology: Antimicrobial effect and biocompatibility through geometry rather than chemistry
The approach – surface functionality through geometry rather than material properties or chemistry – is gaining considerable strategic significance in the context of tightening regulation (e.g., PFAS bans, REACH) and global sustainability objectives. Functional metasurfaces are resource-efficient, durable, and in principle integrable into any industrial production line.
New Opportunities for Industry
The partnership between SurFunction and ZEISS sends a clear signal: functional metasurfaces are no longer a vision of the future – they are becoming industrial reality now. With a globally recognized technology leader such as ZEISS as a strategic partner, the ELIPSYS® platform is being systematically introduced into markets with global reach.
For industrial customers and prospective partners, this step marks the transition from technological maturity to active market development. SurFunction operates as an IP-first, license-driven platform provider – scalable and unconstrained by the limitations of traditional manufacturing companies. Within the framework of the collaboration, both companies pursue the goal of establishing functional metasurfaces as an industrial standard in Europe and beyond - as a new technological category with the potential to become relevant in virtually every market requiring technically demanding surfaces.
