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Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization
Published on: December 11, 2014
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High-throughput patterning of photonic structures with tunable periodicity
Thomas J Kempa1, D Kwabena Bediako2, Sun-Kyung Kim3
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138; tkempa@fas.harvard.edu hgpark@korea.ac.kr dnocera@fas.harvard.edu.
Summary
Reactive Interface Patterning Promoted by Lithographic Electrochemistry (RIPPLE) fabricates optical elements. This high-throughput method enables tunable grating periodicity for photonic and metasurface applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Fabricating optical elements with precise periodic structures is crucial for advanced photonic and metasurface applications.
- Existing high-throughput fabrication methods often face limitations in cost, speed, or tunability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and demonstrate the Reactive Interface Patterning Promoted by Lithographic Electrochemistry (RIPPLE) method for fabricating optical elements.
- To showcase the RIPPLE method's capability for high-throughput, large-area patterning of periodic nanostructures.
- To investigate the tunability of grating periodicity using RIPPLE.
Main Methods:
- Application of the RIPPLE method, utilizing cyclic voltammetry in a three-electrode electrochemical setup.
- Integration of RIPPLE with a template stripping process for fabricating silver (Ag) circular Bragg gratings.
- In situ tuning of grating periodicity by varying the scan rate of applied voltage ramps.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of periodic arrays of Ag circular Bragg gratings over large substrate areas with high throughput.
- Demonstration of in situ tunability of grating periodicity across micrometer and submicrometer length scales.
- Characterization revealed distinct point-like and annular scattering modes above the patterned surfaces.
Conclusions:
- RIPPLE is a facile, reliable, and rapid patterning technique for optical elements.
- The method enables high-throughput and low-cost fabrication of photonic elements and metasurfaces.
- RIPPLE holds potential for applications in energy conversion and sensing.
