Simultaneous microfabrication and tuning of the permselective properties in microporous polymers using X-ray lithography.

Microchannels are fabricated using a photosensitive polymer to which microporosity is tuned with different X-ray doses. Using hard X-ray irradiation, the micropattern is positioned with various geometries in a multi-level, three-dimensional structure, while controlling the pore size and transport properties of small molecules. This highly reliable fabrication process has potential for use in microfluidic devices with enhanced transport properties through microchannels.

Highly luminescent metal-organic frameworks through quantum dot doping.

The incorporation of highly luminescent core-shell quantum dots (QDs) within a metal-organic framework (MOF) is achieved through a one-pot method. Through appropriate surface functionalization, the QDs are solubilized within MOF-5 growth media. This permits the incorporation of the QDs within the evolving framework during the reaction. The resulting QD@MOF-5 composites are characterized using X-ray fluorescence, cross-sectional confocal microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. The synergistic combination of luminescent QDs and the controlled porosity of MOF-5 in the QD@MOF-5 composites is harnessed within a prototype molecular sensor that can discriminate on the basis of molecular size.

Femtosecond nonlinear absorption of gold nanoshells at surface plasmon resonance.

The nonlinear optical absorption of gold nanoshells (Au NSs) of different size, in water, was investigated using open aperture z-scan technique with femtosecond laser pulses at 806 nm. It is found that, in general, NSs behave as saturable absorbers. The level of saturation depends on the Au NSs structure and precisely on the ratio between the core size and shell thickness. The measured values of the nonlinear absorption coefficient show a dependence on both the repetition rate and the pulse energy. An average value of the nonlinear absorption coefficient ß = -4.5 ± 1.0 × 10(-11) cm W(-1) is obtained from z-scan data of core-shell particles of inner and outer radius 95 and 110 nm, respectively, measured at 20 Hz repetition rate in the energy range 120-300 nJ.

Chemical tailoring of hybrid sol-gel thick coatings as hosting matrix for functional patterned microstructures.

A phenyl-based hybrid organic - inorganic coating has been synthesized and processed by hard X-ray lithography. The overall lithography process is performed in a two-step process only (X-rays exposure and chemical etching). The patterns present high aspect ratio, sharp edges, and high homogeneity. The coating has been doped with a variety of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon functional molecules, such as anthracene, pentacene, and fullerene. For the first time, hard X-rays have been combined with thick hybrid functional coatings, using the sol-gel thick film directly as resist. A new technique based on a new material combined with hard X-rays is now available to fabricate optical devices. The effect due to the high-energy photon exposure has been investigated using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, laser scanner, optical profilometer, and confocal and electron microscope. High-quality thick hybrid fullerene-doped microstructures have been fabricated.