Nanoantenna arrays for nanospectroscopy, methods of use and methods of high-throughput nanofabrication

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to nanoantenna arrays and fabrication methods of said nanoantenna arrays. In particular, one aspect relates to nanoantenna arrays including nanostructures of predefined shapes in predefined patterns, which results in collective excitement of surface plasmons. The nanoantenna arrays can be used for spectroscopy and nanospectroscopy. Another aspects of the present invention relate to a method of high-throughput fabrication of nanoantenna arrays includes fabricating a reusable nanostencil for nanostensil lithography (NSL) which provides a mask to deposit materials onto virtually any support, such as flexible and thin-film stretchable supports. The nanostencil lithography methods enable high quality, high-throughput fabrication of nanostructures on conducting, non-conducting and magnetic supports. The nanostencil can be prepared by etching nanoapertures of predefined patterns into a waffer or ceramic membrane. In some embodiments, a nanoantenna array includes plasmonic nanostructures or non-plasmonic nanostructures.