NANO-STRUCTURES

Applying nano to mega

Micro- and nanostructures applied onto very large areas in high volume.

From small to tiny, from micro to nano

Everybody knows what a lens can do. It can focus light, it can magnify the image of an object. Basically, it manipulates light to achieve a certain purpose. Now imagine thousands of tiny lenses, indistinguishable by the naked eye, packed together in a thin layer on a surface. That is what we call a micropatterned light management layer. If you would shrink these micro lenses further, you end up with nanostructures that manipulate the light in a completely different way. These layers with micro- or nanopatterns can benefit various types of products, from solar panels to 3D displays.

Next to optical effects, micro- and nanostructures can affect many other properties, for example the way a surface feels, how a water droplet runs off it or how air flows over it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Structures

Structures with dimensions from 500 micrometer down to 50 nanometer can be imprinted with the Morphotonics nanoimprint technology. Patterns can be random or periodic; a few examples:

  • Pyramids, cones
  • Lenses, lenticulars
  • Fresnel lenses
  • Prisms
  • Diffractive nano textures
  • One dimensional and two dimensional gratings
  • Moth-eye textures
  • Anti-Reflection (AR) textures

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images of our micro- and nanostructures

embossing nanoimprint grating bumps TCO growth SEM nanostructure nanopattern nanoimprint lithography

TCO layer on top of imprinted nano bumps

2D grating nanostructure nanopattern AFM

UV imprinted two dimensional grating

UV imprint NIL micro prism light structure back light micro pattern nanoimprint lithography

Micro prism light direction structure

UV imprinted random nano pattern TCO scattering SEM nanostructure nanoimprint

Random nano texture

Planarization layer nano grating light extraction OLED nanostructure nanopattern nanoimprint lithography

Nano pattern with planarization layer

imprint texture semi random micro pyramids SEM structure pattern nanoimprint lithography

Imprinted semi random pyramids

UV imprint micro lens optics MLO structure pattern embossing UV nanoimprint lithography

Random micro lens optics

UV imprinted periodic 2D nano texture pattern UV embossing nanoimprint lithography

Periodic nano structure

UV imprinted 1D nano grating diffraction light nanostructure nanopattern nanoimprint NIL lithography

One dimensional nano grating

UVNIL micro pyramid texture light direction microscope structure pattern nanoimprint lithography

Imprinted micro pyramids

cross section fresnel lens UV imprint microscope structure pattern

Cross section imprinted fresnel lens

NIL imprint nano cups 2D grating SEM nanostructure nanopattern nanoimprint UV lithography

UV imprinted nano cups

UV imprint micro lens structure pattern optics microscope

Micro lenses

UV imprint micron bumps nanostructure AFM nanopattern nanoimprint

Micron-sized bumps

UV imprint 200 micro lens 2D large microscope structure pattern

200 micron lens imprint

nano imprint UV diffractive nanostructure light pattern nanoimprint

Nanoimprinted diffractive pattern

 

From one to many copies

We start with a master with your structure. Often these master shims or molds are made from nickel, but we can also work from other metals or even polymers. With this master we can start a duplication process with different generations.

Depending on polarity (inverse or not), requested markers or edge lines we can choose to use positive or negative copies from a suitable generation to make the flex stamps to be used in our roll-to-plate process. In any case, it only takes one master to end up with many flex stamps. In turn, each flex stamp can be used many times (>1000x) to make structured products.

Making a master: from small to large area

Your nano- or microstructures are originated on a master (the original).  If you do not have your own master, Morphotonics has a network of partners who can originate any of these structures according to your requirements with techniques like laser interference lithography, laser writing, laser ablation or diamond cutting. Morphotonics also has a library with micro- and nanopatterns. Perhaps we already have the structure you are looking for.

If this master does not have the size suitable for your application, Morphotonics can help to scale it up to large sizes. By UV-tiling parts with your desired and optimized structure together, the patterned surface can be increased up to 1*2 m2.

 

OUR TECHNOLOGY

nanotechnology morphotonics icon

Nanotechnology

Micro- and nanostructures can enhance the photonic properties of a surface. We develop and apply a large range of micro- and nanostructures for all kinds of applications.

Read about micro- & nanostructures

Roll-to-plate nanoimprint

Our roll-to-plate (R2P) technology uses an advanced reusable flexible stamp and can be used for imprinting structures on small and large surfaces.
Discover our R2P technology

Flex stamps

We create stamps for the roll-to-plate imprinting process. The flex stamp is used as a masterfilm and rolled into the resin to fabricate the patterned product.

Learn about our flex stamps

Research & Development

Our engineers gladly work together with you to develop the best textures, stamps, samples, imprinting tools and materials for your application
See what our R&D engineers can do