title: Patterning the tips of optical fibers with metallic nanostructures using nanoskiving.
abstract: Convenient and inexpensive methods to pattern the facets of optical fibers with metallic nanostructures would enable many applications. This communication reports a method to generate and transfer arrays of metallic nanostructures to the cleaved facets of optical fibers. The process relies on nanoskiving, in which an ultramicrotome, equipped with a diamond knife, sections epoxy nanostructures coated with thin metallic films and embedded in a block of epoxy. Sectioning produces arrays of nanostructures embedded in thin epoxy slabs, which can be transferred manually to the tips of optical fibers at a rate of approximately 2 min(-1), with 88% yield. Etching the epoxy matrices leaves arrays of nanostructures supported directly by the facets of the optical fibers. Examples of structures transferred include gold crescents, rings, high-aspect-ratio concentric cylinders, and gratings of parallel nanowires.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lipomi
authors.forename: Ramses V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Mikhail A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kats
authors.forename: Sung H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Philseok
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aizenberg
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D055100:Optical Fibers; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008670:Metals