Applications of the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation method for the deposition of organic, biological and nanoparticle thin films: a review

Abstract

The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique offers an efficient mechanism to transfer soft materials from the condensed to the vapor phase, preserving the versatility, ease of use and high deposition rates of the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The materials of interest (polymers, biological cells, proteins, …) are diluted in a volatile solvent. Then the solution is frozen and irradiated with a pulsed laser beam. Here, important results of MAPLE deposition of polymer, biomaterials and nanoparticle films are summarized. Finally, the MAPLE mechanism is discussed. A review of experimental and theoretical works points out that the simple model of individual molecule evaporation must be abandoned. Solute concentration, solubility, evaporation temperature of solvents, laser pulse power density and laser penetration depth emerge as important parameters to explain the morphology of the MAPLE-deposited films.