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In Situ Control of Reactive Mesogens Alignment During 3D Printing by Two-Photon Lithography.

Tiziana Ritacco1,2,3, Alfredo Mazzulla2, Michele Giocondo2

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.

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Summary

Researchers developed a new single-step method for precisely controlling molecular alignment in 3D printed smart microdevices using two-photon lithography (TPL). This technique enables in situ alignment of reactive mesogens for advanced functionalities.

Keywords:
3D Printingadditive manufacturinganti‐counterfeitingliquid crystalstunable alignment

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Optics

Background:

  • Photopolymerizable liquid crystals (reactive mesogens) are key for additive manufacturing of smart microdevices using two-photon lithography (TPL).
  • Precise control over molecular alignment during TPL fabrication is crucial for tailoring device properties but remains a significant challenge.
  • Existing methods for achieving 2D or 3D alignment patterns are often complex, multi-step, or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the deterministic effect of TPL on mesogenic moiety orientation under optimized printing conditions.
  • To develop a simple, single-step method for in situ alignment of the nematic director during 3D printing with sub-diffraction-limited resolution.
  • To enable programmable control over molecular alignment for advanced microdevice fabrication.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a conventional two-photon lithography (TPL) workflow.
  • Introduced a novel "director-tuning mode" (DiTuM) relying on anisotropic photopolymerization.
  • Employed low laser scan speeds (approximately 0.1 mm/s) to induce an alignment "easy axis" for mesogenic moieties.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a single-step, in situ method for aligning the nematic director during 3D printing.
  • Achieved sub-diffraction-limited resolution in controlling molecular orientation.
  • Showcased the ability to program the direction and strength of the TPL-induced "easy axis", creating complex 3D director fields.

Conclusions:

  • The DiTuM method offers a straightforward approach to precisely control molecular alignment in TPL-fabricated microdevices.
  • This technique facilitates the creation of advanced 3D/4D printed devices with tailored optical and mechanical properties.
  • The method holds significant potential for applications in anti-counterfeiting and other areas requiring complex microstructures.