Transfer of 1D Photonic Crystals via Spatially Resolved Hydrophobization

Abstract

1D photonic crystals (1DPCs) are well known from a variety of applications ranging from medical diagnostics to optical fibers and optoelectronics. However, large-scale application is still limited due to complex fabrication processes and bottlenecks in transferring 1DPCs to arbitrary substrates and pattern creation. These challenges were addressed by demonstrating the transfer of millimeter-to centimeter-scale 1DPC sensors comprised of alternating layers of H 3 Sb 3 P 2 O 14 nanosheets and TiO 2 nanoparticles based on a non-invasive chemical approach. By depositing the 1DPC on a sacrificial layer of lithium tin sulfide nanosheets and hydrophobizing only the 1DPC by intercalation of n-octylamine via the vapor phase the 1DPC can be detached from the substrate by immersing the sample in water. Upon exfoliation of the hydrophilic sacrificial layer, the freestanding 1DPC remains at the water-air interface. In a second step, it can be transferred to arbitrary surfaces such as curved glass. In addition, the transfer of patterned 1DPCs is demonstrated by combining the sacrificial layer approach with area-resolved intercalation and etching. The fact that the sensing capability of the 1DPC is not impaired and can be modified after transfer renders this method a generic platform for the fabrication of photonic devices.

Stimuli-responsive one-dimensional photonic crystals: design, fabrication and sensing

“…In addition, it was shown that the sensing properties can be flexibly changed and fine-tuned through modification with various primary alkylamines. 115 Particularly, this allows to flexibly fine-tune the hydrophobicity of the sample and therefore the response towards VOCs. 115 Even though the fine-tuning of the sensing properties of 1DPCs has not received extensive attention so far, we believe that there is high potential for future research.…”

“…115 Particularly, this allows to flexibly fine-tune the hydrophobicity of the sample and therefore the response towards VOCs. 115 Even though the fine-tuning of the sensing properties of 1DPCs has not received extensive attention so far, we believe that there is high potential for future research. As there is a wide variety of literature concerning intercalation in layered (nano)materials, this may open up the opportunity of judiciously creating stimuli-responsiveness and tunability in inherently non-responsive building blocks.…”

Metal–organic framework-based photonic crystal platforms for gas sensing: a review

“…1-D PCs (Bragg-Stacks) are multiple-layer structures assembled by alternating layers of two materials with high and low refractive indices. It means that 1-D PCs have a regularly variational refractive index in one direction but isotropic in the other two directions 62,63 . 2-D PCs have periodically varied refractive indices in two directions but homogenous in the third direction.…”

“…This means that 1-D PCs show a regular variation in their refractive index in one direction but are isotropic in the other two directions. 62,63 2-D PCs have periodically varied refractive indices in two directions but homogenous in the third direction. 3-D PCs are structures in which the refractive index regularly varies in all three directions.…”

Patterning 2D materials for devices by mild lithography

“…21,22 Floating transfer in itself is not a new concept but is used in various applications based on different protocols, e.g. the transfer of photonic crystals 23,24 and anodic aluminum oxide templates. 25 However, to our knowledge it has not been used to transfer preexposed resist masks to structure easily damageable 2D materials as demonstrated here.…”