Nanoscale Architected Morphology for Optical, Electronic, Ultrasonic, Biomimetic and Forensic Applications

Abstract. A collimated vapor flux can condense on a substrate to form a thin film comprising isolated parallel columns, as demonstrated conclusively by scanning electron microscopy in the 1960s though the anisotropy of these columnar thin films was optically evident much earlier. Substrate motion during deposition causes the parallel columns to grow in fanciful shapes [1], the columnar morphology of these sculptured thin films (STFs) being architected through physical (and physicochemical) vapor deposition. STFs can be made of metals, inorganic non-metals, and organic materials (including polymers). Both the material and the columnar shape are alterable during deposition. STFs can be deposited on planar surfaces, curved surfaces, and even topographically decorated surfaces.

Several different types of applications have emerged. Optical applications include polarization filters, other filters and integrated optical devices, optical biosensors, light sources, and photonic crystals. Electronic applications include substrates, gate dielectrics, and passivation layers for flexible devices. Ultrasonic applications encompass shear-wave filters and phononic crystals. Biomimetic replication of dipteran eyes and buprestid elytrons lead to applications for solar energy harvesting and decoys for pest control. Forensic applications involve the visualization of latent fingermarks and partial bloody fingermarks.

Biography. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) and the University of Utah, Dr. Lakhtakia is presently the Evan Pugh University Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State. His current research interests lie in the electromagnetics of complex materials including chiral and bianisotropic materials, sculptured thin films, chiral nanotubes, nanoengineered metamaterials, surface multiplasmonics, thin-film solar cells, engineered biomimicry, biologically inspired design, and forensic science.