Assembly of Structures using Optical Tweezers

The fabrication of microscale and nanoscale structures is a critical capability for the advancement of fields such as photonics and electronics. An expanding gap exists in the literature between the ability to simulate complex structures and the ability to fabricate these theoretical structures in practice. As such, it is essential to develop and advance new platforms to tackle the fabrication of structures with shrinking size scales. To this end, many existing platforms have been studied, including approaches such as direct laser writing, direct ink writing, self assembly, and numerous others. While several of these platforms do pose unique advantages or abilities, very few approaches have the ability to efficiently fabricate three-dimensional (3D) structures that have complex material integration and high feature resolution. The ability to integrate multiple materials in arbitrary geometries is especially powerful for applications in the field of photonics. In this dissertation, we explore the potential of an optical positioning and linking (OPAL) platform based on optical tweezers and a biochemical linking mechanism. Optical tweezers (OT) are a powerful technique that permit the non-contact manipulation of a range of objects, spanning from the nanoscale to the microscale for a variety of material compositions. OT have found particular interest in biological studies owing to their low operating powers which sustain viability of biological entities. Nevertheless, the versatile nature of OT also enables a promising solution to the additive manufacturing of microscale and nanoscale devices. We first investigate the fundamental physics regarding the motion of an optically trapped object in a liquid medium. In the course of this investigation, we achieve record lateral translation speeds for metallic and dielectric nanospheres around 100 nm in diameter. Next, we evaluate the potential for the assembly of hundreds of micron-scale objects using OT, leading to the fabrication of the largest free-standing structure assembled using the OT platform to date. Finally, we delve into the realm of nanoassembly. Through the optimization of biochemistry techniques and significant improvements in system positional accuracy, we assemble the first functional, multi-material, three-dimensional nanophotonic device using optical tweezers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate College

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Arizona.

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Melzer, Jeffrey Eric

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• McLeod, Euan

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Mansuripur, Masud
• Pau, Stanley

• additive manufacturing
• optical assembly
• optical tweezers

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10150/645787

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645787