Laser Processing Fabrication Technology from Nano to Micro Scales for Polymer Photonics

This project proposes to develop versatile, lithography-free technology for fabricating high-performance polymer photonic devices. This innovation utilizes laser processing to achieve low-cost, simplified production method without compromising the performance necessary for high-speed optical telecommunication devices. The proposed approach is a (a) flexible fabrication platform spanning from nano to macro scales without retooling of complex equipment, (b) non-contact method, free from parasitic effects of mold contact, (c) ambient processing technique, scalable to large-area process, and (d) digital, on-demand, agile manufacturing technique. Laser patterning and annealing can modify and improve the photonic polymer structures and properties, thus enabling the high performance device characteristics without large transmission loss due to scattering. The proposed approach provides streamlined, scalable, direct-write manufacturing protocols for flexible polymer photonic devices compared to the traditional photolithography and ion etching.