6533b859fe1ef96bd12b79da
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Plasmon-based free-radical photopolymerization : effect of diffusion on nanolithography processes
Alexandre BouhelierRenaud BachelotJérôme PlainClaire DeebCarole EcoffetOlivier Sopperasubject
Physics::OpticsNanoparticleNanotechnology02 engineering and technology010402 general chemistry01 natural sciencesBiochemistryCatalysisColloid and Surface ChemistryNanoscopic scaleMicroscale chemistryPlasmonComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUSChemistrySurface plasmonGeneral Chemistry[CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology0104 chemical sciences[ CHIM.POLY ] Chemical Sciences/PolymersNanolithographyPhotopolymer[CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/PolymersPolymerization[ CHIM.MATE ] Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry0210 nano-technologydescription
This Article interrogates the mechanisms responsible for nanoscale photopolymerization induced by confined and enhanced electromagnetic fields. Surface plasmon dipolar resonance of individual Ag nanoparticles was used as an optical near-field source to locally trigger the reaction of a photopolymerizable formulation. Laser excitation of the nanoparticles embedded in the formulation reproducibly generates polymer features with typical dimensions ranging from 2 nm to a few tens of nanometer. We have determined the physicochemical parameters and mechanisms controlling the spatial extent of the photopolymerization process. We found that the diffusion of the dye is the main process limiting the polymerization reaction, as opposed to what is observed at the microscale with an equivalent chemical system. This approach demonstrates that plasmon-based polymerization can achieve true nanometer scale resolution and also provides a unique opportunity to investigate photochemistry at this length scale.
year | journal | country | edition | language |
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2011-01-01 |