Laser direct writing on Au nanofilm

A analysis crew led by Xuesong Mei and Jianlei Cui from Xi’an Jiaotong College has made important progress within the discipline of nanotechnology. They’ve efficiently achieved the direct writing of nanostructures on Au nano-film utilizing a nanosecond-laser-irradiated cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) probe tip.

The fabrication of nanostructures past the diffraction restrict has been a considerable problem in nanotechnology. Standard optical lithography is hindered by the diffraction restrict, and electron beam lithography shouldn’t be relevant to metallic nanofilms. Scanning probe lithography (SPL) presents an answer for nanofabrication, however every sort of SPL has its distinctive software situations.

In the research, the researchers used a laser direct-writing system consisting of a nanosecond laser, optical parts, and an atomic drive microscope (AFM). The laser was centered on the tip aperture of the SNOM probe, which was used to instantly write subwavelength nanostructures on the Au nanofilm with out the necessity for a masks or vacuum ambiance.

The findings are revealed within the journal Engineering.

The crew obtained a minimal linewidth of 83.6 nm and a repeatable linewidth of roughly 167.8 ± 6.6 nm on the Au nano-film. Additionally they investigated the elements influencing the function widths of the nanostructure, such because the single-pulse power (EL) and polarization (α).

Theoretical calculations revealed that the elliptical warmth distribution underneath the SNOM tip generated totally different linewidths when the tip scanned vertically and horizontally.

Elemental evaluation by power dispersive spectrometer (EDS) indicated that the mechanism of this technique was the melting of the Au nanofilm as an alternative of oxidation. The regionally excited floor plasmon polaritons (SPPs) generate a high-temperature spot beneath the tip, offering a nanosized power supply for high-resolution nanofabrication.

This know-how is taken into account handy and economical for nanostructure fabrication and has the potential to be utilized in nanolithography on a number of supplies and even in nanowelding.