TITLE:
Laser Micro-Printing of Dye-Molecules on Polymeric Surfaces
AUTHORS:
Wesley Sims, Aschalew Kassu, Carlton Farley, Anup Sharma
KEYWORDS:
Laser Micro-Printing, Laser Immobilization of Molecules, Micro-Patterning, Reticle
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.6 No.7,
July
27,
2016
ABSTRACT: We describe a technique for micro-patterning and immobilization of dyes on polymer substrates using a low-power visible laser for dye-excitation. Deposits from an aqueous medium containing the dye can be attached at any desired spot on the substrate simply by exposing the area to laser light. The area of the laser beam can control the spot-size of immobilized dye, in the range of 10 - 100 microns. The immobilization technique is characterized by micro-printing numerals, alphabets and patterns on polybutadiene substrates with Rhodamine (Rh6G) dye. Adsorption of laser-excited dye molecules within the polymer appears to be the mechanism for laser-printing technique.