Imaging and characterization of surface relief gratings on azopolymer by digital holographic microscopy

Abstract

Azopolymer materials belong to family special materials, which are subject to photo-isomerization when illuminated by appropriate light wavelength. Optical characterization of azopolymer materials is interesting because they can be patterned when illuminated by coherent polarized light with potentially interesting applications in the biotechnology, photonic elements, molding templates, etch masks and micro-nanochannels. The interference lithography is an excellent tool to trigger the isomerization reaction on the material. During this work, switchable patterns were fabricated by means of a well established holographic set-up: surface relief gratings (SRGs) were realized with Lloyd’s mirror system. Moreover, optical characterization of the material was performed, starting from a commercial one and using a new way to analyse SRGs by means of Digital Holography Microscopy, to determine relevant parameters for the realization of the patterns with different shape and size. Some preliminary results of the influence of such patterns on the cell behavior were shown.