Nano structuring of silicone elastomers for optical applications

Color pixels composed of plasmonic nanostructures provide a highly promising approach for new display technologies, capable of vivid, robust coloration and incorporating the use of low-cost plasmonic materials.[1] Silicone elastomers, usually in the shape of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers, are commonly used to replicate structures mainly on the micro scale but recently also on the nano scale. PDMS dielectric elastomers are promising materials and have the potential to be used in novel applications, especially due to the ability to be formed into complex shapes and still provide actuation.[2] This work deals with the development of PDMS based silicone elastomers with the ability to easily replicate structures on the nano scale of the silicon (Si) stamps in order to achieve the color tuning for potential optical applications.