Direct Imprint of Optical Functionalities on Free‐Form Chalcogenide Glasses

Abstract

Scalable surface patterning of chalcogenide glasses is the crux for many optical applications of these promising optical materials. Here, a novel, resist‐free surface patterning of chalcogenide glasses with 3D relief microstructures is introduced, using direct radiation‐assisted thermal imprint. The imprint is based on a nanocomposite mold made of a carbon nanotube matrix and polydimethylsiloxane resin. To allow nanoimprint, the mold and glass substrate are confined between two elastic membranes, pneumatically pressed against each other, and controllably radiated by an infrared bulb. Since chalcogenide glass is transparent to infrared radiation, the radiation is mostly absorbed in the mold due to the embedded carbon nanotubes, so that the glass–mold interface is heated to the imprint temperature. By using this approach, the first of its type direct imprint of chalcogenide glass of any arbitrary form is demonstrated, including flat substrates and convex aspheric lenses. The composition and structure of imprinted chalcogenide glass are analyzed, and it is demonstrated that they are well maintained throughout the imprint. It is optically characterized both in transmission and reflection modes. It is believed that the innovation provides a quantum leap in the micro‐ and nano‐scale processing of chalcogenide glasses, and opens the pathway to their numerous applications.

Laser-assisted thermal imprinting of glass guided mode resonant (GMR) optical filter

“…We believed that the successful rapid imprinting indicates that our proposed fabrication method was minimally dependent on feature size when using laser assisted imprinting. To achieve complete pattern transfer employing conventional glass thermal imprinting, optimization of temperature, pressure, and holding time are highly dependent on pattern size (thus the line width, and the duty and aspect ratios ) It should be noted that the total cycle time for thermal imprinting previously demonstrated in the literature are generally more than 15 minutes [18,21,22].The data imply that the method could be used to imprint even smaller nanoscale patterns of higher aspect ratio; this is a task for the future. journal.ump.edu.my/jmmst ◄…”

Thermo-mechanical dynamics of nanoimprinting anti-reflective structures onto small-core mid-IR chalcogenide fibers [Invited]

“…% [22], accessing the super-cooled liquid state where the glass malleable, which is convenient and easily achieved with conventional heating elements. For this reason thermal nanoimprinting has been applied in the fabrication of various photonic devices, including planar waveguides [23], diffraction gratings [24], and ring resonators [25].…”

Fabrication Large-scale Diffractive Lens Arrays on Chalcogenide Glass by Means of Step-and-Repeat Hot Imprinting and Non-Isothermal Glass Molding

“…Inkjet printing technologies is a popular exible fabrication method of microlens array, but the structures of the microlens are limited to spherical and aspheric shapes [16]. Other sophisticated technologies, including photolithography, e-beam lithography and wet-etching process [17][18], are good at creating complex features with high precision. But their process is extremely complex and costly.…”