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Atomic layer deposition: A versatile technique for plasmonics and nanobiotechnology

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Abstract

Although atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been used for many years as an industrial manufacturing method for microprocessors and displays, this versatile technique is finding increased use in the emerging fields of plasmonics and nanobiotechnology. In particular, ALD coatings can modify metallic surfaces to tune their optical and plasmonic properties, to protect them against unwanted oxidation and contamination, or to create biocompatible surfaces. Furthermore, ALD is unique among thin film deposition techniques in its ability to meet the processing demands for engineering nanoplasmonic devices, offering conformal deposition of dense and ultrathin films on high-aspect-ratio nanostructures at temperatures below 100 °C. In this review, we present key features of ALD and describe how it could benefit future applications in plasmonics, nanosciences, and biotechnology.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by grants to S-H. Oh from the Office of Naval Research (ONR Young Investigator Program), the National Science Foundation (NSF CAREER Award, CBET 1067681, DBI 0964216, and DMR 0941537), the National Institutes of Health (NIH R01 GM092993), and a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award.

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  1. Laboratory of Nanostructures and Biosensing, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA

    Hyungsoon Im, Nathan J. Wittenberg, Nathan C. Lindquist & Sang-Hyun Oh

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  1. Hyungsoon Im
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Correspondence to Sang-Hyun Oh.

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Im, H., Wittenberg, N.J., Lindquist, N.C. et al. Atomic layer deposition: A versatile technique for plasmonics and nanobiotechnology. Journal of Materials Research 27, 663–671 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2011.434

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