Capturing by self-assembled block copolymer thin films: transfer printing of metal nanostructures on textured surfaces

Abstract

A method to fabricate metal nanostructures by transfer printing, applicable to textured surfaces, is described. The key is the use of self-assembled polystyrene-block-poly-2-vinylpyridine thin films as binding layers. The plasmonic properties of the obtained metal (Ag) nanostructures showed the potential of this method in the design of novel devices.

Plasmonic Light Trapping in Amorphous Si Solar Cells Using Periodic Ag Nanodisk Structures

“…ZnO:Ga spacer layers with variable thickness (x) were then sputtered on the μc-Si:H n layer, and Ag nanodisks with variable thickness (y) were introduced on the μc-Si:H n layers (when x = 0 nm) or ZnO:Ga spacer layers (when x > 0 nm) by the transfer printing technique. [4] Figure 2 shows scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of a representative Ag nanodisk structure (y = 20 nm) on the μc-Si:H n layer (x = 0 nm), with the lateral disk size of 200 nm and the interdisk distance of 460 nm. Finally, additional ZnO:Ga (100-x nm) and Ag (250 nm) layers were overcoated on top of the Ag nanodisks to complete the solar cells.…”

“…Because our transfer-printing technique allows the introduction of Ag nanodisks even on textured surfaces [4], the optimized Ag nanodisk-configuration found with flat superstrates was applied in the cells fabricated on textured superstrates (Asahi-VU). It was found, however, that no EQE enhancement was achieved in this case (-6%, Figure 4), and less photovoltaic performances were often obtained.…”

Printing nanostructured carbon for energy storage and conversion applications

“…It has recently become a popular technique for printing a wide variety of materials, including graphene [46], carbon nanotubes [47], quantum dots [48], DNA [49], and metal nanostructures [50]. While inkjet and screen printing are limited to resolutions of approximately 12 μm and 40 μm [27,51], respectively, transfer printing can be used to pattern features below 100 nm [52,53].…”

Integration of Light Trapping Silver Nanostructures in Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Silicon Solar Cells by Transfer Printing

“…The second role is to reconstruct the PS-b-P2VP thin film, which ensures the capturing of metals (Ag) on PDMS stamps through the formation of metal-pyridine coordination bonds. 25 We believe that such dynamic event at the stamp/substrate interface is essential for the transfer printing especially on textured surfaces.…”

“…In this regards, we have demonstrated a 20 mm × 20 mm-scale patterning with a stamp prepared from a fresh mold. 25 As for the pattern design of the mold/stamp, round-hole/pillar structures with the diameter of 230/200 nm were employed (the smaller diameter of the pillar is due to the tapered shape of the original hole). This choice was simply because such a mold (nanoimprinted plastic film) was commercially available, and it was not the one fabricated specifically to our solar cell application.…”