Manufacturing with light - micro-assembly of opto-electronic microstructures

Zhang, Shuailong and Liu, Yongpeng and Qian, Yang and Li, Weizhen and Juvert, Joan and Tian, Pengfei and Navarro, Jean-Claude and Clark, Alasdair W and Gu, Erdan and Dawson, Martin D. and Cooper, Jonathan M. and Neale, Steven L. (2017) Manufacturing with light - micro-assembly of opto-electronic microstructures. Optics Express, 25 (23). pp. 28838-28850. ISSN 1094-4087 (https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.25.028838)

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Abstract

Optical micromanipulation allows the movement and patterning of discrete microparticles within a liquid environment. However, for manufacturing applications it is desirable to remove the liquid, leaving the patterned particles in place. In this work, we have demonstrated the use of optoelectronic tweezers (OET) to manipulate and accurately assemble Sn62Pb36Ag2 solder microspheres into tailored patterns. A technique based on freeze-drying technology was then developed that allows the assembled patterns to be well preserved and fixed in place after the liquid medium in the OET device is removed. After removing the liquid from the OET device and subsequently heating the assembled pattern and melting the solder microspheres, electrical connections between the microspheres were formed, creating a permanent conductive bridge between two isolated metal electrodes. Although this method is demonstrated with 40  diameter solder beads arranged with OET, it could be applied to a great range of discrete components from nanowires to optoelectronic devices, thus overcoming one of the basic hurdles in using optical micromanipulation techniques in a manufacturing micro-assembly setting.

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