Introduction

In an exciting development in the sphere of nanotechnology, a dedicated research team led by Xuesong Mei and Jianlei Cui from Xi'an Jiaotong University has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in the direct writing of nanostructures on gold (Au) nanofilms.

Traditional Fabrication Challenges

Traditionally, the fabrication of nanostructures has faced challenges due to the diffraction limit, which hampers conventional optical lithography methods. While electron beam lithography is often ineffective for metal nanofilms, scanning probe lithography (SPL) offers a promising alternative.

The Pioneering Study

In this pioneering study, the researchers implemented a laser direct-writing system equipped with a nanosecond laser, optical components, and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The team successfully focused the laser on the tip aperture of the SNOM probe, producing subwavelength nanostructures on the Au nanofilm.

Groundbreaking Results

Their groundbreaking results, now published in the journal Engineering, confirmed a minimum linewidth of just 83.6 nanometers, with a repeatable linewidth of approximately 167.8 ± 6.6 nanometers.

Analysis and Findings

Theoretical analyses revealed that the heat distribution generated by the elliptically focused laser under the SNOM tip could lead to different linewidths depending on the scanning direction of the tip.

Implications for the Future

This cutting-edge technology is not only a breakthrough in efficiency and cost-effectiveness but also holds great potential for broader applications in nanolithography across a variety of materials.

Conclusion

As the world of nanotechnology continues to evolve, this innovative approach could pave the way for a myriad of applications in fields as diverse as electronics, materials science, and biomedical engineering.