Periodic Reporting for period 4 - xPRINT (4-Dimensional printing for adaptive optoelectronic components)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-03-01 al 2022-02-28
The xPRINT main objectives are: (i) the engineering of additive manufacturing technologies for printing optical materials embedding stimuli-responsive compounds and (ii) the realization of printed optical components for all-optical computing and data storage.
A synergistic approach characterizes the xPRINT scientific workplan, encompassing modelling and diagnostics of the 3D printing processes, as well as advanced process engineering and spectroscopic analysis, specifically targeting photo-active and photo-responsive materials.
- modelling of the photo-polymerization processes, for effectively describing 3D printing processes. The cross-linked regions have been modeled as clusters and the photo-polymerization reaction as an aggregation process. Moreover, a phenomenological model of photo-polymerization process has been introduced to account for polymerization processes whose kinetics is affected by size effects.
- Development of experimental methods for in-situ and real-time monitoring of 3D printing. An innovative methodology based on the measurement of the UV light back-scattered by cured volumes has been introduced.
-Methodologies for 3D printing of transparent materials by either photopolymerization or material extrusion have been experimentally determined. This has led to printed optical components such as 3D freeform optical elements capable of generating complex light intensity patterns, exploitable as cryptographic components.
-Methodologies for 3D printing of light-responsive systems have been implemented, with optical properties (e.g. the refractive index, the birefringence and the absorption spectra) controllable by light modulation.
-3D printing of light-guiding components and experimental investigation of their waveguiding properties.
-Realization of 3D optical structures with tailored light scattering properties enhanced by self-assembly of the constituent nanomaterials, including cellulose nanocrystals.
-Demonstration of a new set of nanostructures 3D materials, whose thermal and light-scattering properties are precisely photo-programmed. These materials have been exploited for the realization of non-colorimetric time-temperature indicators.
-Realization of light-emitting devices, including complex lasers with advanced polarization properties and intensity variable by external electric fields.
-Printing of materials responsive to optical stimuli. These materials constitute the building block of an all-optical computational and data storage unit.
The results of the project have been disseminated to the scientific community through open access publications. The activities aimed at the dissemination of the results have included also presentations at international conferences on photonics, optics and nanomaterials, participation to the European Researchers’ night, and contributions in Research-to-Business and B-to-B events.