Light-induced directed self-assembly of periodic sub-wavelength nanostructures

A method for the light-induced directed self-assembly of periodic sub-wavelength nanostructures, comprising:

• providing a light source for delivering a single beam of photons;
• providing a reaction chamber disposed adjacent to the light source;
• providing a gas comprising one or more precursor materials disposed within the reaction chamber;
• and
• providing a substrate disposed within the reaction chamber, wherein the substrate is positioned and configured to receive the single beam of photons directed to the substrate from the light source;
• wherein the single beam of photons causes a periodic sub-wavelength nanostructure of one or more constituents of the one or more precursor materials to form on a surface of the substrate within an area of exposure to the single beam of photons parallel to a laser polarization of the single beam of photons via a light-induced directed self-assembly mechanism prior to any translation of the light source or the substrate.