title: Direct writing of metal nanostructures: lithographic tools for nanoplasmonics research.
abstract: Continued progress in the fast-growing field of nanoplasmonics will require the development of new methods for the fabrication of metal nanostructures. Optical lithography provides a continually expanding tool box. Two-photon processes, as demonstrated by Shukla et al. (doi: 10.1021/nn103015g), enable the fabrication of gold nanostructures encapsulated in dielectric material in a simple, direct process and offer the prospect of three-dimensional fabrication. At higher resolution, scanning probe techniques enable nanoparticle particle placement by localized oxidation, and near-field sintering of nanoparticulate films enables direct writing of nanowires. Direct laser "printing" of single gold nanoparticles offers a remarkable capability for the controlled fabrication of model structures for fundamental studies, particle-by-particle. Optical methods continue to provide a powerful support for research into metamaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK. graham.leggett@shef.ac.uk
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Leggett
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007834:Lasers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D006046:Gold