Abstract
Convenient and inexpensive methods to pattern the facets of optical fibers with metallic nanostructures would enable many applications. This communication reports a method to generate and transfer arrays of metallic nanostructures to the cleaved facets of optical fibers. The process relies on nanoskiving, in which an ultramicrotome, equipped with a diamond knife, sections epoxy nanostructures coated with thin metallic films and embedded in a block of epoxy. Sectioning produces arrays of nanostructures embedded in thin epoxy slabs, which can be transferred manually to the tips of optical fibers at a rate of approximately 2 min(-1), with 88% yield. Etching the epoxy matrices leaves arrays of nanostructures supported directly by the facets of the optical fibers. Examples of structures transferred include gold crescents, rings, high-aspect-ratio concentric cylinders, and gratings of parallel nanowires.
Highlights
This paper describes an integrated, rapid, and high-yielding approach to the fabrication and transfer of two-dimensional (2D) arrays of metallic nanostructures from the ultramicrotome used to make them to the cleaved facets of optical fibers
The process combines nanoskiving— here, the thin sectioning of patterned epoxy nanoposts supporting thin metallic films to produce arrays of metallic nanostructures embedded in thin epoxy slabs[1,2] (Figure 1)—with manual transfer of the slabs to the optical fibers (Figure 2)
The size and shape of an optical fiber precludes the use of ordinary lithographic processes
Summary
This paper describes an integrated, rapid, and high-yielding approach to the fabrication and transfer of two-dimensional (2D) arrays of metallic nanostructures from the ultramicrotome used to make them to the cleaved facets of optical fibers. The process combines nanoskiving— here, the thin sectioning of patterned epoxy nanoposts supporting thin metallic films to produce arrays of metallic nanostructures embedded in thin epoxy slabs[1,2] (Figure 1)—with manual transfer of the slabs to the optical fibers (Figure 2).
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