Development of High-Quality Polymer/Air-Bragg Micromirror Structures for Nanophotonic Applications

TL;DR

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of high-quality polymer/air-Bragg micromirror structures using 3D two-photon polymerization lithography, enabling cost-effective, environmentally sensitive, and versatile nanophotonic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel polymer-based micromirror fabrication method that allows fast prototyping and integration into hybrid nanophotonic systems.

Findings

Achieved up to 14 mirror pairs with 99% reflectivity at 1550 nm.

Demonstrated reproducible and mechanically stable 3D printed micromirrors.

Enabled integration with quantum dots, molecules, and 2D materials.

Abstract

We report the design, nanofabrication, and characterization of high-quality polymer-based micromirror structures employing the 3D two-photon polymerization lithography technique. Compared to conventional microcavity approaches, our innovative concept provides microstructures which allow fast prototyping. Moreover, our polymer-based mirrors are cost effective, environmentally sensitive, as well as compatible with a wide range of wavelengths from NIR to the telecom C-band. We demonstrate polymer/air distributed Bragg reflectors and full microcavity structures with up to 14 mirror pairs with a target wavelength of 1550 nm and a reflectivity close to 99%. Additionally, our 3D printed micromirrors are reproducible, mechanically stable, and enable hybrid nanophotonic devices based on quantum dots, molecules or 2D quantum materials as active medium.