Large-area flexible infrared nanowire grid polarizer fabricated using nanoimprint lithography

Abstract

We fabricated a 4-in large-area flexible infrared nanowire grid polarizer using a nanoimprint and metal thermal evaporation process. To protect the Si master template, as well as to prolong the service life of it, we first fabricated a nickel template as an alternative by an electroforming process. Then, the nanowire grid structure was transferred from this template to IPS substrate by a thermal nanoimprint process. Finally, Al was deposited on the IPS nanowire structure by vertical thermal evaporation technology. The results of the infrared optical test reveal that the TM transmittance of the polarizer is greater than 60% in the 4-5.71 μm and 5.73-6.7 μm wavelength ranges, and, especially, it is greater than 70% in the wavelength ranges of 4.70-5.69 μm and 5.75-6.59 μm. The extinction ratio is more than 20 dB in the wavelength range of 3.6-6.7 μm, proving that the polarizer has good polarization characteristics. The flexible infrared nanowire grid polarizer has potential applications in the fields of curved surface monitoring equipment and polarized imaging equipment.

Emerging low-cost, large-scale photonic platforms with soft lithography and self-assembly

“…Reprinted with permission from Ref. [59], copyright 2018, Optica. (c) (i) Schematic of the P2P NIL for solar cells with grating structures.…”

Highly Sensitive and Cost‐Effective Polymeric‐Sulfur‐Based Mid‐Wavelength Infrared Linear Polarizers with Tailored Fabry–Pérot Resonance

“…[ 15–17 ] However, polymeric sulfur has temperature‐dependent rheological properties that enable thermal processability; therefore, it can be used for the cost‐effective thermal fabrication (i.e., thermal nanoimprinting) to prepare IR polarizers. [ 18,19 ]…”

“…[15][16][17] However, polymeric sulfur has temperature-dependent rheological properties that enable thermal processability; therefore, it can be used for the cost-effective thermal fabrication (i.e., thermal nanoimprinting) to prepare IR polarizers. [18,19] For a high-quality polarimetric image, polarization sensitivity is crucial for distinguishing the object from complex natural backgrounds by obtaining additional information such as shading and surface morphologies. [20][21][22][23][24][25] For highly sensitive polarizers, both a high transmission of the transverse magnetic field (T TM ) and a high extinction ratio (ER) are required in the broadband wavelength region to achieve high polarization sensitivity.…”

Magnetic Field Patterning of Nickel Nanowire Film Realized by Printed Precursor Inks

“…These magnetic applications exploit the fact that the large shape anisotropy generated from the high aspect ratio of nanowires provides high intrinsic coercivity. Aligned nanowires on surfaces can also be useful for optical applications, such as nanowire polarizers [45,46], and for many biological purposes, for example, “lab on a chip” devices, as well as for the construction of tubular sensors which exploit geometrically induced circumferential magnetization [47], or for cell guidance using tissue- or organ-like structures in vitro [48]. There is, therefore, significant interest in developing a method to directly fabricate nanowires having the desired orientation onto the preferred substrate.…”