Nanothermoforming of hierarchical optical components utilizing shape memory polymers as active molds

Norbert Schneider,Alexander Kolew,Juerg Leuthold,Claudia Zeiger,Marc Schneider,Hendrik Hölscher,Matthias Worgull

doi:10.1364/ome.4.001895

Abstract

We utilize shape memory polymers as active mold inserts for the thermoforming of complex, hierarchical nano- and microstructured optical components with undercuts on large scales. Our approach combines nanoimprint/hot embossing and thermoforming with the unique features of shape memory polymers. As examples for this nano- and microthermo-forming process, we demonstrate the fabrication of hierarchical photonic structures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly as well as diffractive optical elements with nm- and μm-size structures.

Highlights

Many optical structures found in nature offer a variety of interesting and useful features originating from their nanostructure [1,2,3,4,5]
Our approach combines nanoimprint/hot embossing and thermoforming with the unique features of shape memory polymers. As examples for this nano- and microthermoforming process, we demonstrate the fabrication of hierarchical photonic structures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly as well as diffractive optical elements with nm- and μm-size structures
We demonstrate the basic principle of nanothermoforming with SMPs by the manufacturing of photonic structures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly and the composition of diffractive optical elements

Summary

Introduction

Many optical structures found in nature offer a variety of interesting and useful features originating from their nanostructure [1,2,3,4,5]. A simple downscaling of this approach towards optical nanostructures is not within reach To overcome these issues we utilize shape memory polymers (SMPs) [19,20,21,22] as active mold inserts for the thermoforming of complex, hierarchical nano- and microstructures which can be used as optical components. It is a remarkable ability of SMPs to recover from a temporary shape to a previously defined, permanent shape by an external stimulus like heat. We demonstrate the basic principle of nanothermoforming with SMPs by the manufacturing of photonic structures inspired by the blue Morpho butterfly and the composition of diffractive optical elements

Nanothermoforming with shape memory polymers

Findings

Conclusion