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.
