NanoVidere - Research on Coating Deposition

在这个项目中，我们将开发、优化和分析光致变色涂层系统。这些涂层将使纳米显微镜的各种应用成为可能，其分辨率超过了当今显微镜和光谱学的技术水平。为了实现这一目标，我们将与有机化学研究所和物理化学研究所密切合作，他们以自己的项目提案参与本提案包。光致变色涂层已经在与光刻工艺相关的文献中进行了描述，它们被称为吸附-调制层（AML）。新纳米技术所设想的高分辨率和图像质量需要相当薄和高效的AML，预计100纳米的厚度比文献中发表的最先进的涂层薄4倍。此外，AML需要合适的粘度、热导率和光致变色稳定性。由于为了获得最高分辨率的图像，将在衍射有限的区域内进行多次测量，因此需要防止诸如光致变色分子的光诱导旋转，即所谓的“孔燃烧”等二次效应。所有这些影响主要取决于光致变色分子周围的环境，并应通过开发合适的交联无定形基质来最小化。光致变色分子将被应用于液相中的表面，以便在液体薄膜中得到保护。随后，薄膜将使用非热等离子体进行聚合。该方法已经在文献中进行了描述和演示，并将被扩展以提供所需的AML功能。这些特殊等离子体聚合物的典型特性应在其弹性、拉伸性能或内部粘度方面得到开发和优化。因此，涂层将允许分子在光致变色开关时发生几何形状的变化。这些过程还应包括专门定制的交联反应。此外，物理和化学性质的梯度将被诱导，使得表面表现出适合于非接触测量的抗反射行为，或者适合于使用浸入物镜测量的表面硬度和稳定性。

In this project, we will develop, optimise and analyse photochromic coating systems. These coatings shall render possible various applications of the nanoscopy with resolutions beyond today’s state of the art for microscopy and spectroscopy. In order to achieve this goal, we will closely collaborate with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and the Institute of Physical Chemistry, who participate in this proposal package with their own project proposals.Photochromic coating are already described in the literature related to lithographic processes, where they are call adsorbance-modulaytion layers (AML). The high resolution and image quality envisioned for the new nanoscopic techniques require rather thin and efficient AML, with the projected thickness of 100 nm being thinner than the best state-of-the-art coating published in the literature by a factor of 4. Further, the AML requires a suitable viscosity, thermal conductivity and photochromic stability. Since multiple measurements will be taken within a diffraction-limited area in order to achieve images at highest resolutions, secondary effects such as optically induced rotation of photochromic molecules, so-called "hole burning", need to be prevented. All such effects are dependent mainly on the environment around the photochromic molecules, and shall be minimized by developing a suitable cross-linked, amorphous matrix.The photochromic molecules will be applied to the surface within a liquid phase, in order to be protected within this liquid film. Subsequently, the films will be polymerised using a non-thermal plasma. This approach has already been described and demonstrated in the literature, and shall be extended to deliver the desired AML functionalities. The typical properties of these special plasma polymers shall be exploited and optimized for their elasticity, tensile properties or inner viscosity. Thereby, the coatings will allow for the changes in geometrical shape, which the molecules undergo upon photochromic switching. These processes shall also include specifically tailored cross-linking reactions. Further, a gradient of physical and chemical properties will be induced such, that the surface exhibits a suitable anti-reflex behaviour for contactless measurements or a suitable surface hardness and stability for measurements using immersion objectives.