Formation of high-aspect-ratio nanocavity in LiF crystal using a femtosecond X-ray free-electron laser pulse
Recent research and development into the formation of nanoscale channels as a central component of nanofluidic biochip systems revolutionized the biological and chemical fields. Exploration of new pathways to form nanochannels is increasingly necessary to provide a new generation of analytical tools with accurate control of liquid fluid flow, high selectivity and increased mass flow rate. Here, we demonstrate that a single 9-keV pulse from X-ray free-electron-laser can form a nanoscale mm-long cavity in LiF. The laser-generated shock pressure results in channel formation with >1,000 length-to-diameter aspect ratio. The development of void is analyzed via continuum and atomistic simulations revealing a sequence of processes leading to the final long cavity structure. This work presents the study of mm-long nanochannel formation by a single high-brilliance X-ray free-electron laser pulse. With MHz repetition rate X-ray free electron laser opens a new avenue for the development of lab-on-chip applications in any material, including those non-transparent to optical lasers.
Authors
- Jan‐Patrick Schwinkendorf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8703-7641)
- S. S. Makarov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8223-1181)
- Vojtěch Vozda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5426-1519)
- J. Chalupský (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6930-1774)
- Ludovic Rapp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9256-2048)
- István Mohácsi
- Zuzana Konôpková
- Evgeniy A. Perov
- Petr Chuprov
- V. V. Shepelev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4224-1999)
- M. Nakatsutsumi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0868-4745)
- Takehisa Shobu
- V. Hájková (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0776-6012)
- Andrei V. Rode (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-9782)
- Mikako Makita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1513-9198)
- Saulius Juodkazis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3542-3874)
- Victor A. Khokhlov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9126-0243)
- Thomas R. Preston (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1228-2263)
- Norimasa Ozaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7320-9871)
- Karen Appel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2902-2102)
- N. A. Inogamov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-4415)
- T. A. Pikuz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5971-9250)
- S. Yu. Grigoryev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3492-3949)
- L. Juha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4189-8753)
- С. А. Пикуз (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2529-1142)
- E. Brambrink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2404-9412)
- U. Zastrau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3575-4449)
- Vasily Zhakhovsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6620-6616)
- Yu. V. Petrov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1887-8092)
- T. Burian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3982-9978)
- Valerio Cerantola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2808-2963)
- Aki Tominaga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0556-2526)
- Ryosuke Kodama
Institutions
- Tokyo Institute of Technology (JP)
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JP)
- Australian National University (AU)
- Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics (RU)
- EnergyAustralia (Australia) (AU)
- Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (AU)
- FZU ‒ Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CZ)
- Institute for Computer Aided Design (RU)
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures (RU)
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (DE)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66481-6
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Australian National Fabrication Facility
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science