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arXiv · 0807.3634

Fluorescent oxide nanoparticles adapted to active tips for near-field optics

A. Cuche·B. Masenelli·G. Ledoux·D. Amans·C. Dujardin·Y. Sonnefraud·P. Melinon·S. Huant
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Abstract

We present a new kind of fluorescent oxide nanoparticles with properties well suited to active-tip based near-field optics. These particles with an average diameter in the range 5-10 nm are produced by Low Energy Cluster Beam Deposition (LECBD) from a YAG:Ce3+ target. They are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), classical photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence and near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). Particles of extreme photo-stability as small as 10 nm in size are observed. These emitters are validated as building blocks of active NSOM tips by coating a standard optical tip with a 10 nm thick layer of YAG:Ce3+ particles directly in the LECBD reactor and by subsequently performing NSOM imaging of test surfaces.

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A. Cuche, B. Masenelli, G. Ledoux, D. Amans, C. Dujardin, Y. Sonnefraud, P. Melinon, S. Huant. 2008-10-08. Fluorescent oxide nanoparticles adapted to active tips for near-field optics. https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484%2F20%2F1%2F015603

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