Process for plasmonic-based high resolution color printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192351-A1
Application number	US-201515304848-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for plasmonic-based high resolution color printing is provided. The process includes a) providing a nanostructured substrate surface having a reverse structure geometry comprised of nanopits and nanoposts on a support, and b) forming a conformal continuous metal coating over the nanostructured substrate surface to generate a continuous metal film, the continuous metal film defining nanostructures for the plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, wherein a periodicity of the nanostructures is equal to or less than a diffraction limit of visible light. A nanostructured metal film or metal-film coated support obtained by the process and a method for generating a color image are also provided.

First claim

1 . A process for plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, the process comprising:
a) providing a nanostructured substrate surface having a reverse structure geometry comprised of nanopits and nanoposts on a support, and b) forming a conformal continuous metal coating over the nanostructured substrate surface to generate a continuous metal film, the continuous metal film defining nanostructures for the plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, wherein a periodicity of the nanostructures is equal to or less than a diffraction omit of visible light.

2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a metalloid, and combinations thereof.

3 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the support is at least substantially transparent to visible light.

4 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein providing the nanostructured substrate surface comprises patterning the support by a method selected from the group consisting of nanoimprint lithography, electron beam lithography, photolithography, and combinations thereof.

5 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein providing the nanostructured substrate surface comprises patterning the support by nanoimprint lithography.

6 . The process according to claim 1 , further comprising separating the continuous metal film from the nanostructured substrate surface.

7 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein forming the conformal continuous metal coating is carried out by a method selected from the group consisting of vapor disposition, sputtering, casting, coating, electroplating, and combinations thereof.

8 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the periodicity is 500 nm or less.

9 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the periodicity is in the range of about 5 nm to about 500 nm.

10 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein height of each nanostructure is 200 nm or less.

11 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein height of each nanostructure is in the range of about 100 nm to about 200 nm.

12 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein each nanostructure has a cross sectional dimension in the range of about 10 nm to about 250 nm, the cross sectional dimension being defined along a transverse axis of the nanostructure.

13 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous metal film comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and combinations thereof.

14 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous metal film comprises aluminum.

15 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the color image is observable using bright-field illumination.

16 . A nanostructured metal film or metal-film coated support obtained by a process for plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, the process comprising:
a) providing a nanostructured substrate surface having a reverse structure geometry comprised of nanopits and nanoposts on a support, and b) forming a conformal continuous metal coating over the nanostructured substrate surface to generate a continuous metal film, the continuous metal film defining nanostructures for the plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, wherein a periodicity of the nanostructures is equal to or less than a diffraction limit of visible.

17 . A method for generating a color image, the method comprising irradiating visible light on a nanostructured metal film or metal-film coated support obtained by a process for plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, the process comprising:
a) providing a nanostructured substrate surface having a reverse structure geometry comprised of nanopits and nanoposts on a support, and b) forming a conformal continuous metal coating over the nanostructured substrate surface to generate a continuous metal film the continuous metal film defining nanostructures for the plasmonic-based high resolution color printing, wherein a periodicity of the nanostructures is equal to or less than a diffraction limit of visible light.

18 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Agency Science Tech & Res

Inventors

• Yang Joel Kwang Wei
• Goh Xiao Ming
• Zhu Di
• Tan Shawn
• Wang Ying Min
• Dong Zhaogang

Classifications

• G02B5/1809

  with pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength · CPC title

• G03F7/0002 Primary

  Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping · CPC title

• G03F7/167

  from the gas phase, by plasma deposition (G03F7/2035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• G02B6/1226

  involving surface plasmon interaction · CPC title