Imaging of Thin Films, and Its Application in the Life Sciences

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the fabrication, patterning, microscopy, and applications of thin films and, notably, their applications in the life sciences. Because the field is enormous, only organic thin films on metal and glass substrates are described. Details of optical microscopy technologies are discussed in detail, based mainly on evanescent technology, while near-field methods and electron microscopy are referred to only briefly. The applications described incorporate only a small fraction of those used in thin film technology and engineering in the life sciences. Keywords: thin films; imaging; microscopy; resonant and nonresonant microscopy methods; Brewster angle; total internal reflection; surface plasmons; fluorescence