Visualizing Nanoscale Dynamics of Metasurface-Enabled Optoelectronics via Co-localized Optical, Thermal, and Electrical Scanning Probe Microscopy
Abstract
The proposed research will significantly enhance experimental activities within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research project Meta-Imaging- Sensing, Processing and Computing with Dynamic Metasurfaces (Award No. AFOSR MURI FA9550-21-1-0312, Principal Investigator Dr. Maiken Mikkelsen). Herein, we propose acquisition of a Horiba TRIOS Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) system designed for simultaneous Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Tip-Enhanced Raman and Tip-Enhanced Photoluminescence measurements. The co-localized and deeply sub-diffraction limited imaging capabilities of the TRIOS SPM will enable simultaneous topographical, optical, electrical, and thermal imaging of metasurfaces at the nanometer scale to correlate nanoscale structure with device performance and provide feedback for design of metasurfaces with new functions.1,2 This unique ability to image truly nanoscale properties, which goes far beyond the spatial limits of confocal imaging techniques, will open up fundamental knowledge vital to understanding the processes within metasurfaces responsible for important optoelectronic applications of meta-imaging, photodetection, and optical computing.3-5 Simultaneous imaging of topography and nonlinear optical processes, photoluminescence, capacitance, temperature, or reflectance of nano-structured surfaces under flexible laser excitation conditions will develop fundamental knowledge vital to the development of new optoelectronic detecting concepts, metasurface-enabled sensing, and optical computation. Specifically, the research proposed herein will aim to visualize nanoscale metasurface properties relevant to photodetection and passive image processing. The Horiba TRIOS SPM and associated accessories will enable -Quantification of nanoscale photothermal conversion and electrical processes in metasurfaces to maximize responsivity in metasurface-enabled photodetectors. -Real-time, dynamic visualization of structural changes in active and reconfigurable metasurfaces. -Tip-enhanced photoluminescence and Raman imaging to spatially map multiple nonlinear optical processes to specific nanoscale structures within a metasurface. These experimental efforts accomplished through the proposed instrument will develop truly nanoscale understandings of optical processes in metasurfaces, which will provide essential feedback for further metasurface design and enable novel and exciting functionalities. These will be applied to metasurface-enabled photodetectors and metasurfaces that perform nonlinear mathematical operations on incident light. This will represent a significant step towards AFOSR goals of tunable, ultrathin photodetectors with sensitivity to light properties far-beyond standard imaging capabilities and towards low-energy, on-chip, and instantaneous image processing. High configurability of the Horiba TRIOS SPM platform will allow coupling between the proposed instrument and multiple excitation sources and imagers-detectors already present in the lab, such that research output can be synergistically amplified with the acquisition of a single instrument. Further, the proposed research and the Horiba TRIOS instrument will allow a powerful training opportunity for future scientists and engineers in cutting edge optical techniques and participation in the entire process of metasurface development, fabrication, and characterization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410042
Entities
People
- Maiken H Mikkelsen
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Duke University
- United States Air Force