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High Trap Stiffness Microcylinders for Nanophotonic Trapping

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

R.P. Badman
F. Ye
W. Caravan
M.D. Wang

Abstract

Nanophotonic waveguides have enabled on-chip optical trap arrays for high-throughput manipulation and measurements. However, the realization of the full potential of these devices requires trapping enhancement for applications that need large trapping force. Here, we demonstrate a solution via fabrication of high refractive index cylindrical trapping particles. Using two different fabrication processes, a cleaving method and a novel lift-off method, we produced cylindrical silicon nitride (Si3N4) particles and characterized their trapping properties using the recently developed nanophotonic standing-wave array trap (nSWAT) platform. Relative to conventionally used polystyrene microspheres, the fabricated Si3N4 microcylinders attain an approximately 3- to 6-fold trap stiffness enhancement. Furthermore, both fabrication processes permit tunable microcylinder geometry, and the lift-off method also results in ultrasmooth surface termination of the ends of the microcylinders. These combined features make the Si3N4 microcylinders uniquely suited for a broad range of high-throughput, high-force, nanophotonic waveguide-based optical trapping applications. © 2019 American Chemical Society.

Date Published

Journal

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Volume

11

Issue

28

Number of Pages

25074-25080,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85070024956&doi=10.1021%2facsami.9b10041&partnerID=40&md5=76d37804564d1568842a1f182ee995dd

DOI

10.1021/acsami.9b10041

Research Area

Group (Lab)

Michelle Wang Group

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