Silver Nanoantenna Stickers for Photoluminescence Control

Abstract

Nanoantenna stickers, in which the periodic array of nanoparticles is embedded in an elastomer film, can be easily attached to and detached from the surface of target materials and work as nanoantennas to control light. The stickers can be fabricated by nanoimprint lithography followed by a transfer process. While aluminum nanoantenna stickers have been prepared with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as the sacrificial layer that is dissolved in water during the transfer process, it has been difficult to transfer the silver nanoantenna because of the weak adhesion between silver and PVP. In this work, upon placement of a thin aluminum layer between silver and PVP, a silver nanoantenna is successfully transferred into an elastomer film. We demonstrate a photoluminescence outcoupling by placing a sticker on the luminous layer. The emission pattern is modulated both spatially and spectrally in a way defined by the nanoantenna sticker. The ability to enhance photoluminescence in the forward direction is stronger than that of the aluminum nanoantenna sticker with an identical geometry.