Thermoplasmonic Patterning of Silver Nanocrystal/Polymer Composite Thin Films

Abstract

energy harvesting. [8,9] Similarly, the use of metal nanoparticles as thermoplasmonic heat sources has been applied to dynamic optical color patterning. [10,11] This can be achieved by altering the shape, [10] or local environment of the particles in order to alter their LSPR. [12] Plasmonicheat sources can also be utilized in micro/ nanofabrication for mask-less direct-write optical lithography, bypassing the need for the creation of complex masks, or expensive electron or ion-beam lithography to achieve high resolution patterning. Plasmonic heat sources generate highlylocalized heating which can be applied from subdiffraction limited scales to microscale or larger patterning. [13][14][15]

Plasmonic color generation in silver nanocrystal‐over‐mirror films by thermal embedment into a polymer spacer

“…A focused laser beam can be used to produce features in a plasmonic nanocomposite at a sub‐diffraction level. [ 36,37 ] By regulating the power of light delivered to the nanoparticles it might be possible to carefully control the embedment depth and print an entire palette of colors on‐demand. Incorporating thermoplasmonic patterning to the system presented in this work would make the technique competitive with other methods for high resolution plasmonic color patterning.…”

Achieving Rewritable Fluorescent Patterning on Dye-Doped Polymers Using Programmable Laser Direct Writing

“…As one of the most common lasers, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser has been widely used in food, medicine, machinery and electronics, aerospace, and other fields with the characteristics of low-cost, simple operation, and high photothermal conversion efficiency. − The interaction between CO 2 laser and materials is mainly manifested as the thermal effect, which can be used in the surface treatment, cutting, patterning, and perforation of materials. − Recently, laser direct writing (LDW) as new technology has been widely used for the surface patterning of metals, ceramics, plastics, and other materials. LDW exhibits great potential in designing patterns, especially for polymers, in that the high-energy laser beam irradiates the materials to generate instantaneous high temperature, leaving permanent patterns on the polymers’ surface by carbonization, discoloration, vaporization, or foaming. − Typical applications are to make logos, images, texts, two-dimensional codes, or barcodes to ensure the identification and traceability of various commodities.…”