Periodic Reporting for period 1 - L4DNANO (Laser Interference Lithography based 4D-printing of Nanomaterials)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-01-01 do 2024-12-31
Since its introduction nearly four decades ago, 3D printing has taken the world by storm. As the technology has advanced, the types of materials that can be printed have expanded to include smart materials, particularly smart nanomaterials, giving rise to 4D nanomaterials that can change shape and properties over time in response to inputs such as light or heat. However, existing technologies for 3D-printing at the nanoscale have limitations in simultaneously achieving high-accuracy and high-throughput in large volume nanostructures fabrication. L4DNANO aims to overcome these limitations by initiating a new process paradigm of laser interference lithography (LIL) based 4D-printing for rapidly and accurately producing truly 3D structural and large volume 4D nanomaterials. This is achieved through 4 overall objectives:
(1) realising volumetric LIL scanning and deep exposure in photosensitive materials,
(2) achieving optimal stitching, leading the seamless accumulation of 3D nanostructural patterns,
(3) achieving controlled infiltration of smart materials to the 3D nanostructural templates for producing 4D nanomaterials,
(4) pioneering LIL-based 4D-printing with biomedical and engineering applications.
The new techniques will be pioneered on biomedicine and engineering applications. The objectives are ambitious and require international level collaborations. The project addresses the collaborations by initiating a long-term collaboration platform among consortium members and beyond. It also emphasis staff development via various joint research and innovation and training activities, particularly, the carefully arranged secondments.
(1) realising volumetric LIL scanning and deep exposure in photosensitive materials,
(2) achieving optimal stitching, leading the seamless accumulation of 3D nanostructural patterns,
(3) achieving controlled infiltration of smart materials to the 3D nanostructural templates for producing 4D nanomaterials,
(4) pioneering LIL-based 4D-printing with biomedical and engineering applications.
The new techniques will be pioneered on biomedicine and engineering applications. The objectives are ambitious and require international level collaborations. The project addresses the collaborations by initiating a long-term collaboration platform among consortium members and beyond. It also emphasis staff development via various joint research and innovation and training activities, particularly, the carefully arranged secondments.
L4DNANO has build up an extensive international network solidified through secondments from beneficiaries and associated partners. From the beneficiaries, 18 researchers have so far performed 26 secondments producing a significant progress towards the project objectives:
(1)
To realise volumetric LIL scanning and deep exposure in photosensitive materials, activities were first performed centred around the implementation and research of two-beam LIL. In particular, an objective was to compare the manufacturing quality of this technique to produce low period surface gratings with the quality achieved using femtosecond direct laser writing (fs-DLW). Some of the applications of these devices include optical spectroscopy, metrology and control of surface wettability. Next, the effect of LIL and fs-DLW on the surface wettability was compared, providing detailed insight to the impact of surface roughness and organic contamination of the samples. Finally, 3+1 and 4+1 beams laser interference system were designed using the split-amplitude beam splitting principle to produce controlled three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures.
(2)
3D alignment is more challenging than standard 2D alignment. A novel 2-DOF positioning platform was first developed for optimizing the spatial precision scanning motion generation method, and the prototype showed show that a large motion stroke and a high motion resolution of 18 nm could be achieved simultaneously. Next, simulations were performed on laser interference patterns to provided better 3D control, and based on the multi-beam amplitude interference strategy, varied 3D periodic structures could be designed by tuning the polarization of the coherent beams, providing a strategic design for LIL scanning.
(3)
The surface tension and intermolecular/interatomic attraction of photosensitive materials can be resistant to infiltration. The effect of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) to affect surface wettability of different substrates was investigated, and nanostructured stainless steel samples were explored for templating cell scaffolds. In the exploration of 4D nanomaterials we also produced a chitosan-copper composite membrane and investigated its potential as an alkaline flow battery.
(4)
LIPSS patterned samples were investigated for biomedical and engineering applications. The surface micro-nanotexturization has a significant influence on cell growth and proliferation.
(1)
To realise volumetric LIL scanning and deep exposure in photosensitive materials, activities were first performed centred around the implementation and research of two-beam LIL. In particular, an objective was to compare the manufacturing quality of this technique to produce low period surface gratings with the quality achieved using femtosecond direct laser writing (fs-DLW). Some of the applications of these devices include optical spectroscopy, metrology and control of surface wettability. Next, the effect of LIL and fs-DLW on the surface wettability was compared, providing detailed insight to the impact of surface roughness and organic contamination of the samples. Finally, 3+1 and 4+1 beams laser interference system were designed using the split-amplitude beam splitting principle to produce controlled three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures.
(2)
3D alignment is more challenging than standard 2D alignment. A novel 2-DOF positioning platform was first developed for optimizing the spatial precision scanning motion generation method, and the prototype showed show that a large motion stroke and a high motion resolution of 18 nm could be achieved simultaneously. Next, simulations were performed on laser interference patterns to provided better 3D control, and based on the multi-beam amplitude interference strategy, varied 3D periodic structures could be designed by tuning the polarization of the coherent beams, providing a strategic design for LIL scanning.
(3)
The surface tension and intermolecular/interatomic attraction of photosensitive materials can be resistant to infiltration. The effect of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) to affect surface wettability of different substrates was investigated, and nanostructured stainless steel samples were explored for templating cell scaffolds. In the exploration of 4D nanomaterials we also produced a chitosan-copper composite membrane and investigated its potential as an alkaline flow battery.
(4)
LIPSS patterned samples were investigated for biomedical and engineering applications. The surface micro-nanotexturization has a significant influence on cell growth and proliferation.
The L4DNANO project has already produced a strong impact in advancing the LIL-based 4D-printing of nanomaterials and the research in accurate and efficient 4D-printing of large volume nanomaterials.
Scientific outputs include:
• Overall scheme design for a spatial laser interference lithography system
• Design of 3+1 and 4+1 beams laser interference system to produce controlled three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures
• Prototype of novel 2-DOF positioning platform
• Optimised LIPSS patterns for controlled surface wettability and cell scaffolds
• Research on vibration-assisted formwork penetration filling method
• Applied Research on Hydrogel Sensors
While progress towards the objectives is on track, some foreseen tasks are still in the initial phase. Especially the foreseen research on phase-compensation pattern accumulation have still not started and will be a point of focus. The integration of research and innovation outcomes into lab settings and beyond will also be a point of focus during the second half of the project.
Scientific outputs include:
• Overall scheme design for a spatial laser interference lithography system
• Design of 3+1 and 4+1 beams laser interference system to produce controlled three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures
• Prototype of novel 2-DOF positioning platform
• Optimised LIPSS patterns for controlled surface wettability and cell scaffolds
• Research on vibration-assisted formwork penetration filling method
• Applied Research on Hydrogel Sensors
While progress towards the objectives is on track, some foreseen tasks are still in the initial phase. Especially the foreseen research on phase-compensation pattern accumulation have still not started and will be a point of focus. The integration of research and innovation outcomes into lab settings and beyond will also be a point of focus during the second half of the project.