Nanoscale Plasmonic Printing

Abstract

Nanoscale structuring/printing is of interest for a range of applications in 3D subtractive and additive manufacturing (3D±). Basic principles of light field enhancement and control at the nanoscale are overviewed in this chapter for bulk, surface, and localised plasmons (1D, 2D, and 3D localisation, respectively). All these plasmons are resonant phenomena that have common Lorentzian spectral line shape that relates refractive and absorption properties as well as defining the phase of transmitted and scattered light. Localisation of light at the nanoscale creates the possibility of modification with matching resolution. Harnessing this light enhancement can be demonstrated as a “nano-pen” for direct write nanolithography.