Exploration of new surface patterns for nanophotonics

Nano-science is an interdisciplinary field for the future development in technologies. Progress toward smaller features is of great importance in nanofabrication in order to explore unique functionalities for nanophotonics and... [ view full abstract ]

Nano-science is an interdisciplinary field for the future development in technologies. Progress toward smaller features is of great importance in nanofabrication in order to explore unique functionalities for nanophotonics and nano-biotechnology. We are currently facing an explosion of novel ideas and strategies with fusion of bottom-up and top-down strategies[1]. In this regard, thin films of polymers containing azobenzene chromophores have received much attention due to their potential in the emerging field of controlled nanostructure formation[2]. Here, we experimentally show a simple bottom-up approach to produce cavity shaped nanostructures on the surface of azopolymer thin films by the choice of solvent-droplet-induced-dewetting method and incoherent unpolarized light illumination. We use the special properties of azopolymer with illumination of these nanostructures by a polarized laser light showing the possibility of further growth and reshaping of structures (Figs.1-3). Cavity shaped nano-structures will give a point of interest owing to their applications in nano-plasmonics, photochemistry, nano-rectors and sensors. Smart nano-cavities with controllable volumes and shapes can be investigated as plasmonic traps for photo-catalytic and enzyme reactions. Also, these patterns present the possibility of creating controllable nano-structures as a nano-environment for trapping nanoparticles[3]. We will show examples exploiting these possibilities.