Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
Aesthetically Enhanced Silica Aerogel Via Incorporation of Laser Etching and Dyes
Published on: March 12, 2021
Pulsed laser-induced formation of silica nanogrids
Jürgen Ihlemann1, Ruth Weichenhain-Schriever
1Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen, Hans-Adolf-Krebs-Weg 1, Göttingen 37077, Germany. juergen.ihlemann@llg-ev.de.
Abstract:
Silica grids with micron to sub-micron mesh sizes and wire diameters of 50 nm are fabricated on fused silica substrates. They are formed by single-pulse structured excimer laser irradiation of a UV-absorbing silicon suboxide (SiOx) coating through the transparent substrate. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) superstrate (cover layer) coated on top of the SiOx film prior to laser exposure serves as confinement for controlled laser-induced structure formation. At sufficiently high laser fluence, this process leads to grids consisting of a periodic loop network connected to the substrate at regular positions. By an additional high-temperature annealing, the residual SiOx is oxidized, and a pure SiO2 grid is obtained.
Pacs:
81.07.-b; 81.07.Gf; 81.65.Cf.
