Parallel near-field optical micro/nanopatterning on curved surfaces by transported micro-particle lens arrays

Abstract

Although laser surface nanopatterning by particle lens arrays (PLA), utilizing near-field enhancement, has been extensively utilized previously, a suitable technique for the deposition of PLA on the curved surface of a cylinder was not available. In this paper, a novel technique for nanopatterning on curved surfaces using PLA is demonstrated. In the proposed technique, a hexagonal closed pack monolayer of SiO2 spheres is first formed by self-assembly on a flat glass surface. The formed monolayer of particles is then picked up by a flexible optically transparent sticky surface and placed on the substrate to be patterned. A 532 nm wavelength Nd : YVO4 laser was used to irradiate the substrate with the laser passing through the flexible, transparent surface and the particles. Experimental investigations are made to ascertain the properties of the patterns. In addition, the optical near-field distribution around the particles is numerically simulated. The proposed technique is validated for nanopatterning of the curved surface of a cylinder.