Visible Mie resonances in dielectric hollow spheres: Principle, regulation, and applications

Dielectric nanostructures have recently been frequently employed as building blocks for photonic structures due to their advantages, including low energy dissipation, good chemical stability, and distinct resonant properties compared to plasmonic nanostructures. One of the most important principles that governs the optical property of dielectric nanoparticles is Mie resonance, which highly depends on dielectric property, size, morphology, and assembly structures of the nanoparticles as well as the surrounding environment. Among diverse types of Mie‐resonant nanoparticles, hollow spheres are particularly attractive as they can reduce multiple scattering and elongates the mean free path of the light passing through, which results in enhanced Mie resonance compared to solid particles and benefits a broad range of applications including structural color and beyond. This article aims at reviewing the recent development of Mie‐resonant hollow spheres from aspects starting from a brief theoretical introduction of Mie resonance in hollow spheres, principles for regulation of the resonances, followed by common strategies for synthesis, and recent advances in applications of Mie‐resonant hollow spheres. Remarks on the challenges and future opportunities in this area will also be presented. Mie resonance in dielectric hollow spheres shows promising potential for optical modulation with low energy loss, excellent chemical stability, and distinct resonant properties. The recent progress with regard to the synthesis of hollow nanoshells, regulation parameters of Mie resonance, and application for structural color and solar energy conversion is systematically reviewed.