arXiv subjects

Stoffel D. Janssens

Publications and source records attributed to Stoffel D. Janssens.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Direct laser writing of high aspect ratio nanochannels for nanofluidics

Nanochannels with high width-to-height aspect ratios are desirable for many applications, particularly those requiring optical access, but remain challenging to fabricate. In this work, the direct laser writing of such channels between diamond films and glass substrates is introduced. As previously reported, laser light can transform a portion of diamond film into a nanostrip. The strip induces delamination of the surrounding film, causing the formation of two nanochannels with triangular cross-sections. Here, it is demonstrated that nanochannels with rectangular cross-sections and width-to-height aspect ratios exceeding fifty can form between pairs of nanostrips. With atomic force microscopy, the maximum strip spacing that produces these nanochannels is investigated, and it is demonstrated that the reflectance of the channels can be measured by microspectrophotometry. The microstructure of the nanochannels, including nanostrips, and processes that occur during laser writing are inferred from transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. By fabricating a nanofluidic device and using microspectrophotometry, it is found that the nanochannels fill with water through capillary action, are resistant to clogging, and are mechanically stable against water filling. A versatile platform for producing high-aspect-ratio nanochannels that are optically accessible and fluidically functional is presented, thereby expanding opportunities for advanced applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Probing growth precursor diffusion lengths by inter-surface diffusion

Understanding and optimizing thin-film synthesis requires measuring the diffusion length $d_α$ of adsorbed growth precursors. Despite technological advances, in-situ measurements of $d_α$ are often unachievable due to harsh deposition conditions, such as high temperatures or reactive environments. In this paper, we propose a fitting approach to determine $d_α$ from experimental data by leveraging inter-surface diffusion between a substrate and a strip obtained by, for example, processing a film. The substrate serves as a source or sink of precursors, influencing the growth dynamics and shaping the profile of the strip. By fitting simulated profiles to given profiles, we demonstrate that $d_α$ can be determined. To achieve this, we develop a theoretical growth model, a simulation strategy, and a fitting procedure. The growth model incorporates inter-surface diffusion, adsorption, and desorption of growth precursors, with growth being proportional to the concentration of adsorbed precursors. In our simulations, a chain of nodes represents a profile, and growth is captured by the displacement of those nodes, while keeping the node density approximately constant. For strips significantly wider than $d_α$, a scaled precursor concentration and $d_α$ are the fitting parameters that are determined by minimizing a suitably defined measure of the distance between simulated and given profiles. We evaluate the robustness of our procedure by analyzing the effect of profile resolution and noise on the fitted parameters. Our approach can offer valuable insights into thin-film growth processes, such as those occurring during plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Early stages of polycrystalline diamond deposition: Laser reflectance at substrates with growing nanodiamonds

The chemical vapor deposition of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) films is typically done on substrates seeded with diamond nanoparticles. Specular laser reflectance and a continuous film model have been used to monitor the thickness of these films during their deposition. However, most seeds are isolated during the early stages of the deposition, which questions the utility of applying such a continuous film model for monitoring deposition before film formation. In this work, we present a model based on the Rayleigh theory of scattering for laser reflectance at substrates with growing nanodiamonds to capture the early stages of PCD deposition. The reflectance behavior predicted by our model differs from that of a continuous film, which is well-described by the continuous film model. This difference enlarges as the seed density used in our model decreases. We verify this trend experimentally by depositing diamond under identical conditions on substrates with various seed densities. A relation derived from our model is used to fit reflectance data from which seed densities are obtained that are proportional to those found with electron microscopy. We also show that relying on the continuous film model for describing the early stages of deposition can result in falsely deducing the existence of incubation, and that the continuous film model can be used safely beyond the early stages of deposition. Based on these findings, we delineate a robust method for obtaining growth rates and incubation periods from reflectance measurements. This work may also advance the general understanding of nanoparticle growth and formation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Formation and morphology of closed and porous films grown from grains seeded on substrates: Two-dimensional simulations

Two-dimensional simulations are used to explore topological transitions that occur during the formation of films grown from grains that are seeded on substrates. This is done for a relatively large range of the initial value $Φ_s$ of the grain surface fraction $Φ$. The morphology of porous films is captured at the transition when grains connect to form a one-component network using newly developed raster-free algorithms that combine computational geometry and network theory. Further insight on the morphology of porous films and their suspended counterparts is obtained by studying the pore surface fraction $Φ_p$, the pore over grain ratio, the pore area distribution, and the contribution of pores of certain chosen areas to $Φ_p$. Pinhole survival is evaluated at the transition when film closure occurs using survival function estimates. The morphology of closed films ($Φ= 1$) is also characterized and is quantified by measuring grain areas and perimeters. The majority of investigated quantities are found to depend sensitively on $Φ_s$ and the long-time persistence of pinholes exhibits critical behavior as a function of $Φ_s$. In addition to providing guidelines for designing effective processes for manufacturing thin films and suspended porous films with tailored properties, this work may advance the understanding of continuum percolation theory.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Boundary Curvature Effect on the Wrinkling of Thin Suspended Films

In this letter, we demonstrate a relation between the boundary curvature $κ$ and the wrinkle wavelength $λ$ of a thin suspended film under boundary confinement. Experiments are done with nanocrystalline diamond films of thickness $t \approx 184$~nm grown on glass substrates. By removing portions of the substrate after growth, suspended films with circular boundaries of radius $R$ ranging from approximately 30 to 811 $μ$m are made. Due to residual stresses, the portions of film attached to the substrate are of compressive prestrain $ε_0 \approx 11 \times 10^{-4}$ and the suspended portions of film are azimuthally wrinkled at their boundary. We find that $λ$ monotonically decreases with $κ$ and present a model predicting that $λ\propto t^{1/2}(ε_0 + ΔR κ)^{-1/4}$, where $ΔR$ denotes a penetration depth over which strain relaxes at a boundary. This relation is in agreement with our experiments and may be adapted to other systems such as plant leaves. Also, we establish a novel method for measuring residual compressive strain in thin films.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2019

Nanocrystalline diamond-glass platform for the development of three-dimensional micro- and nanodevices

Low-cost and robust platforms are key for the development of next-generation 3D micro- and nanodevices. To fabricate such platforms, nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) is a highly appealing material due to its biocompatibility, robustness, and mechanical, electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties, while glass substrates with through vias are ideal interposers for 3D integration due to the excellent properties of glass. However, developing devices that are comprised of NCD films and through glass vias (TGVs) has rarely been attempted due to a lack of effective process strategies. In this work, a low-cost process - free of photolithography and transfer-printing - for fabricating arrays of TGVs that are sealed with suspended portions of an ultra-thin NCD film on one side is presented. These highly transparent structures may serve as a platform for the development of microwells for single-cell culture and analysis, 3D integrated devices such as microelectrodes, and quantum technologies. The process is demonstrated by fabricating TGVs that are sealed with an NCD film of thickness 175 nm and diameter 60 $μ$m. The technology described can be extended by replacing NCD with silicon nitride or silicon carbide, allowing for the development of complex heterogenous structures on the small scale.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2017

Effect of a surface tension imbalance on a partly submerged cylinder

We perform a static analysis of a circular cylinder that forms a barrier between surfactant-laden and surfactant-free portions of a liquid$-$gas interface. In addition to determining the general implications of the balances for forces and torques, we quantify how the imbalance $Δγ=γ_a-γ_b$ between the uniform surface tension $γ_a$ of the surfactant-free portion of the interface and the uniform surface tension $γ_b$ of the surfactant-laden portion of the interface influences the load-bearing capacity of a hydrophobic cylinder. Moreover, we demonstrate that the difference between surface tensions on either side of a cylinder with a cross-section of arbitrary shape induces a horizontal force component $f^h$ equal to $Δγ$ in magnitude, when measured per unit length of the cylinder. With an energetic argument, we show that this relation also applies to rod-like barriers with cross-sections of variable shape. In addition, we apply our analysis to amphiphilic Janus cylinders and we discuss practical implications of our findings for Marangoni propulsion and surface pressure measurements.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Behavior of self-propelled acetone droplets in a Leidenfrost state on liquid substrates

It is demonstrated that non-coalescent droplets of acetone can be formed on liquid substrates. The fluid flows around and in an acetone droplet hovering on water are recorded to shed light on the mechanisms which might lead to non-coalescence. For sufficiently low impact velocities, droplets undergo a damped oscillation on the surface of the liquid substrate but at higher velocities clean bounce-off occurs. Comparisons of experimentally observed static configurations of floating droplets to predictions from a theoretical model for a small non-wetting rigid sphere resting on a liquid substrate are made and a tentative strategy for determining the thickness of the vapor layer under a small droplet on a liquid is proposed. This strategy is based on the notion of effective surface tension. The droplets show self-propulsion in straight line trajectories in a manner which can be ascribed to a Marangoni effect. Surprisingly, self-propelled droplets can become immersed beneath the undisturbed water surface. This phenomenon is reasoned to be drag-inducing and might provide a basis for refining observations in previous work.

physics.flu-dyn↗