Direct laser writing of gain and metallic nanostructures

The authors present investigations on the fabrication of three-dimensional nanostructures by direct laser writing using organic-inorganic hybrid materials that (i) can be structured accurately to sub-100nm, (ii) contain quantum dots, and (iii) can be selectively covered with metal. Direct laser writing by multi-photon polymerization is a nonlinear optical technique which allows the fabrication of three-dimensional structures with a resolution beyond the diffraction limit. The polymerization process is initiated when the beam of an ultra-fast infrared laser is tightly focused into the volume of a transparent, photosensitive material.