Optical properties of structured surfaces

Optical properties of micro and nano-structured media (nanoparticles, thin films, patterned surfaces, heterogeneities): link between process parameters and morphological and optical properties of complex media. Laser induced heat propagation in thin film and substrates.

  • Our measurement system for the BRDF analysis

This research axis is devoted to the characterization and modeling of the optical properties of micro and nano-structured media (nanoparticles, thin films, patterned surfaces, heterogeneities …).

Multiscale morphology of surfaces determines many physical properties like wetting, haptics and optics. Yet, even if the morphology is perfectly known, the optical properties of surfaces with micro- and nano-structures or patterns are often not straightforward to predict. This makes them complex systems from the optical point of view, and there is still a lack of robust analytical or numerical tools for predicting the optical properties of, for example, granular films in a stack, or geometries containing surface and/or bulk disorder. In addition, we might want to access there properties in real time during the material synthesis process. 

Our most recent activities in this area cover the following topics:

OPTICS AS A TOOL FOR METROLOGY OF SURFACES

  • Modeling of in-situ optical measurements (stress and differential spectroscopy of thin films)
  • Modeling of rapid (ellipsometry) or non-destructive (confocal Raman microscopy) optical measurements
  • Laser-induced heat propagation in thin films and substrates

MACROSCOPIC OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF COMPLEX MEDIA

  • Light scattering from rough surfaces and complex photonics structures
  • Optical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles (NP)
  • Liquid crystal (LC) defects for self-assembly of plasmonic oxide NP or for structuring dichroic dyes