Multi-material 3D printing with nanometer level resolution

項目簡介｜PROJECT SUMMARY

This project applies our record-setting femtosecond projection two-photon lithography (FP-TPL) technology to a custom-developed swellable 3D hydrogel scaffold to realize high-speed multi-material 3D printing with 10 nm resolution – a new world record in printing resolution and material variability.



發展階段｜STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT

Ready to launch



產品特點｜DISTINGUISHED FEATURES

• The FP-TPL system employs the concept of temporal focusing to generate programmable femtosecond light sheets from regenerative laser amplifier and digital micromirror device (Fig.1); this is equivalent to simultaneously projecting millions of laser foci at focal plane, replacing traditional method of serially a scanning laser at one point only, i.e., FP-TPL technology can fabricate a whole plane within the time that the point-scanning system fabricates a point.
• What makes FP-TPL a disruptive technology is that it not only greatly improves the speed (approximately 100mm3/hour, 3 order of magnitudes higher than existing state-of-the-art solutions), but also sets new records in printing resolution (~140nm/175nm in lateral and axial directions) and cost (US$1.5/mm3).
• To further improve resolution and material choices, we have been developing a new printing platform based on swellable hydrogel scaffolds and FP-TPL.
• To fabricate sub 50nm structures, femtosecond light sheets first perform fast printing in expanded hydrogel scaffolds; next, target materials are deposited in the modified region in the gel scaffold; lastly, hydrogen chloride is applied to the hydrogel to induce large volume shrinkage for 1,000-27,000 times. The shrinkage ratio is adjustable based on the gel composition and processing conditions. Fig.2 presents preliminary fabrication results



如何解決市場痛點｜RESPONSE TO MARKET PAIN POINTS

This project combines femtosecond projection two-photon lithography (FP-TPL) with implosion fabrication to realize high-speed multi-material 3D printing with a resolution of 10 nanometers, which will generate significant impact to the photonics, nanotechnology, and nanomanufacturing industry.



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公司網址｜WEBSITE

https://mpil.mae.cuhk.edu.hk/

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