Photonic Nanostructures by Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printing (IJP) is a versatile method for additive manufacturing of electronic and optoelectronic devices with a typical spatial resolution on the order of 30 microns. For realizing photonic nanostructures using this approach, the deposited materials have to be controlled on a subwavelength length scale. Here, we demonstrate that this can be realized, both, in vertical and in lateral direction. Using the spontaneous phase-separation of two polymers from a common ink, we realize quasi-periodic and disordered assemblies of light scatterers.The phase separated nanostructures feature sizes that can be tuned from a few microns down to the sub-100 nm level. Applications are in the field of photonic sensors and organic optoelectronic devices. An even more precise control is necessary for realizing one-dimensional photonic crystals (dielectric mirrors) by IJP. Such an approach enables digitally controlled dielectric mirror pixels for various opto-electronic applications.