Scientists Developing New Low Cost Manufacturing Technologies for High Resolution Optical Components

Scientists from Leibniz University in Hanover have pioneered the development of a new manufacturing technology - UV LED based microscopy projection lithography. This technology is expected to completely change the manufacturing method of optical components, providing high resolution at lower cost and ease of use. The MPP system utilizes the power of UV LED light sources to transcribe the structural patterns of photomasks onto a substrate coated with photoresist. Impressively, it can create optical components with feature sizes as small as 85 nm, comparable to more expensive and complex methods such as multiphoton and electron beam lithography.

MPP technology unfolds through the design of structural patterns, which are initially printed on transparent foil. Then, through carefully arranged lithography settings and subsequent wet etching processes, these patterns are transferred onto a chromium photomask. This innovative approach is particularly beneficial for applications that require rapid prototyping and economic manufacturing, making it a blessing for creating optical devices essential for microfluidic devices, biosensors, and other biomedical research or consumer electronics products.

In their research process, scientists were able to generate diamond nanocone structures using thermal annealing methods. They demonstrated that the extraction efficiency of nitrogen vacancy center emitters in nanostructures depends on the geometry of the nanocone/nanopillar, emitter polarization, and axis depth. The research results indicate that nanocones and nanocolumns have an advantage in extracting from emitter dipoles with s - and p-polarization, respectively. The emitter in the s-polarized nanocone and the emitter in the p-polarized nanopillar have achieved the most promising results in terms of collection efficiency.

These groundbreaking insights may have a significant impact on the design and manufacturing of micro/nano optical devices based on NV centers in the future. This study adds new dimensions to the field of lithography and has been published in the respected journal Light: Advanced Manufacturing. MPP technology has the characteristics of high resolution, low cost, and user-friendly operation, which is likely to open up the next level of innovation in optical device manufacturing.

Source: Laser Net