2D/3D switchable display based on a polarization-multiplexed metasurface

A 2D/3D switchable display based on the polarization-multiplexed metasurface is proposed. The designed metasurface is governed by the Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase, which performs the functionality of either a lens for 2D display or a 4 × 4 lens array for 3D integral imaging (3D-II) display under different circularly polarized light illumination. As a proof of concept, a metallic metasurface on a SiO₂ substrate is fabricated, and its lens and lens array operations are experimentally validated by focusing characterization. Using a commercial OLED panel as the light source in the experimental setup, we demonstrate a polarization-controlled display prototype capable of switching between high-resolution 2D images and full-parallax 3D scenes. The simulated and experimental results confirm the 2D/3D switching functionality of the proposed approach, offering promising potential for applications in floating, virtual reality/augmented reality, portable, and wearable display devices.