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Printing on Particles: Combining Two-Photon Nanolithography and Capillary Assembly to Fabricate Multimaterial
Steven van Kesteren1, Xueting Shen1, Michele Aldeghi1
1Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|January 5, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel method combining capillarity-assisted particle assembly (CAPA) and two-photon polymerization direct laser writing (2PP-DLW) to create advanced multimaterial microstructures. This technique enables precise assembly of functional microparticles into complex 1D, 2D, and 3D devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfabrication
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Additive manufacturing faces challenges in integrating multiple materials at micro- and nanoscale.
- Demand for intricate microstructures is increasing across various scientific fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for fabricating multimaterial microstructures by combining CAPA and 2PP-DLW.
- To enable precise assembly and functionalization of microparticle arrays into complex 3D architectures.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing 2PP-DLW to create 3D templates for guiding CAPA.
- Employing CAPA for assembling soft and hard colloids into functional microparticle arrays.
- Implementing automated particle recognition for "printing on particles" to create tailored 1D, 2D, and 3D structures with polymer links.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated diverse particle clusters and lattices with controlled symmetry and composition.
- Demonstrated the creation of thermoresponsive microactuators and magnetically driven micromachines.
- Showcased the ability to manipulate DNA-coated particles in solution using the developed micromachines.
Conclusions:
- The combined CAPA and 2PP-DLW method offers a flexible platform for creating complex multimaterial microstructures.
- This approach facilitates the integration of various functional materials, paving the way for advanced microrobotics, micromanipulation, and metamaterials.
