Resonant infrared laser-assisted nanoparticle transfer and applications of same

A method for depositing particles onto a substrate to form an N-layered structure thereon, wherein N is an integer greater than 1, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a plurality of targets, {Tj, j=1, . . . , N}, wherein the j-th target, Tj, contains a corresponding j-th type of particles to be deposited;
• b. irradiating the first target, T1, with a light of a first wavelength in the infrared region which is resonant with a corresponding vibrational mode of the first target T1 so as to vaporize the first type of particles in the first target T1 without decomposing the first type of particles;
• c. depositing the vaporized first type of particles onto the substrate to form a first layer thereon;
• and
• d. repeating steps (b) and (c) for the j-th target Tj to form a j-th layer on (j−1)-th layer, wherein j=2, 3, . . . N, so as to form a structure having N layers on the substrate, and wherein the light irradiating the j-th target T has a j-th wavelength in the infrared region which is resonant with a corresponding vibrational mode of the j-th target Tj so as to vaporize the j-th type of particles in the j-th target Tj without decomposing the j-th type of particles.

An apparatus for depositing particles onto a substrate, wherein a target is formed with the particles and a solvent or a matrix of solvents, comprising:

• a. a light source for emitting a light of a wavelength resonant with a vibrational or electronic absorption mode of the solvent or a matrix of solvents;
• b. means for irradiating the target with the light so as to vaporize the particles in the target without decomposing the particles;
• and
• c. a stencil member positioned between the target and the substrate to allow the vaporized particles to pass through and form a film of particles with a pattern on the substrate,
• wherein the substrate is positioned such that the substrate and the target define a distance therebetween.