Optical printing systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- illuminating a first location of an optothermal substrate with electromagnetic radiation;
wherein the optothermal substrate converts at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation into thermal energy; and
wherein the optothermal substrate is in thermal contact with a liquid sample comprising a plurality of thermally reducible metal ions, the liquid sample having a first temperature;
thereby;
generating a confinement region at a location in the liquid sample proximate to the first location of the optothermal substrate,wherein at least a portion of the confinement region has a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature such that the confinement region is bound by a temperature gradient;
trapping at least a portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions within the confinement region; and
thermally reducing the trapped portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions;
thereby;
depositing a metal particle comprising the reduced metal ions on the optothermal substrate at the first location.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods comprising: illuminating a first location of an optothermal substrate with electromagnetic radiation; wherein the optothermal substrate converts at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation into thermal energy; and wherein the optothermal substrate is in thermal contact with a liquid sample comprising a plurality of thermally reducible metal ions; thereby: generating a confinement region at a location in the liquid sample proximate to the first location of the optothermal substrate; trapping at least a portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions within the confinement region; and thermally reducing the trapped portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions; thereby: depositing a metal particle on the optothermal substrate at the first location. Also disclosed herein are systems for performing the methods described herein. Also disclosed herein are patterned substrates made by the methods described herein, and methods of use thereof.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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illuminating a first location of an optothermal substrate with electromagnetic radiation; wherein the optothermal substrate converts at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation into thermal energy; and wherein the optothermal substrate is in thermal contact with a liquid sample comprising a plurality of thermally reducible metal ions, the liquid sample having a first temperature; thereby; generating a confinement region at a location in the liquid sample proximate to the first location of the optothermal substrate, wherein at least a portion of the confinement region has a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature such that the confinement region is bound by a temperature gradient; trapping at least a portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions within the confinement region; and thermally reducing the trapped portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions; thereby; depositing a metal particle comprising the reduced metal ions on the optothermal substrate at the first location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system comprising:
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an optothermal substrate in thermal contact with a liquid sample comprising a plurality of thermally reducible metal ions, the liquid sample having a first temperature; and a light source configured to illuminate the optothermal substrate at a first location, wherein the optothermal substrate converts at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation into thermal energy; thereby; generating a confinement region at a location in the liquid sample proximate the first location of the optothermal substrate, wherein at least a portion of the confinement region has a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature such that the confinement region is bound by a temperature gradient; trapping at least a portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions within the confinement region; and thermally reducing the trapped portion of the plurality of thermally reducible metal ions; thereby; depositing a metal particle comprising the reduced meal ions on the optothermal substrate at the first location.
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Specification