(Invited) Near-Field Optics and Its Applications in Nanoscale Materials: A Review

In this paper, we first offer an overview of aperture-type scanning near field optical microscopy –a family of super-resolution imaging techniques based on evanescent waves, which can be combined with atomic force microscopy and are capable of subwavelength resolution nano-optical imaging. In the second part of this review, we will discuss a few applications in which our group capitalized on the super-resolution resolving power of SNOM to design specific nano-optical and nano-photonic systems for light harvesting, resistive memory device applications and nanoscale thermo-optical management. Specific case studies that will be presented include the characterization of weakly photoluminescent and curved carbon dots for memory device applications, the three-dimensional characterization of plasmon-enhanced nanophotonic devices, as well as the development of near-field thermoreflectance imaging for nanophotonic-based thermal management applications. Collectively, our study well represents the versability of SNOM as a unique super-resolution nanophotonic tool for the investigation of light-matter interaction at the nanoscale.