EAGER: Multiphoton Polymerization with Optical Trap Assisted Nanopatterning

EARLY概念探索性研究资助（EAGER）奖为开发创新的3D增材制造工艺提供资金，该工艺能够生产具有纳米分辨率的均匀金属和聚合物特征，用于光学，光子学，生物材料和其他领域。在这里，我们建议结合联合收割机的图案分辨率和缩放的好处，提供了最近开发的光阱辅助纳米图案化方法与超快多光子聚合处理的3-D附加功能。然而，为了实现这一目标，有必要更深入地了解这些进程，并证明这种综合办法的可行性。为此，本提案将侧重于实验和数值探测的基本证明？]的？]原理问题涉及超快激光加工和聚合物前体溶液与光学捕获微球的相容性，以及在无污染或再沉积的情况下将前体溶液分散在微球附近的能力。数值研究将包括通过液体溶液和聚苯乙烯微球的光传播的时域有限差分模拟。然而，实验将使用激光加工过程中的原位成像和非原位表征来识别材料响应。如果成功，这项研究将对许多不同的应用领域产生深远的影响，这些领域需要多尺度和多功能的3-D架构来提高功能，例如光子材料，光电子学，微流体，组织工程，通过出版物和国际演讲在这些领域的广泛传播将确保研究人员从我们的研究中获得广泛的利益。但也许更重要的是，这项研究的成功将提供一个可行性的证明，这是必要的，以确保通过传统的车辆，以进一步发展这种潜在的变革性材料处理方法的资金。最后，我们设想这项研究作为一个种子之间的国际合作研究人员在普林斯顿大学和埃尔兰根-纽伦堡大学，先进光学技术学院（UEN-SAOT）在德国的三维激光为基础的制造。为此，已拨款支持前往UEN-SAOT的旅行，在那里，PI将帮助培训其他研究人员和学生掌握这一发展中的技术。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award provides funding to develop an innovative 3-D additive manufacturing process capable of producing uniform metal and polymer features with nanometer resolution for applications in optics, photonics, biomaterials and other areas. Here, we propose to combine the patterning resolution and scaling benefits provided by the recently developed optical trap assisted nanopatterning method with the 3-D additive capabilities of ultrafast multiphoton polymerization processing. However in order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to attain a deeper understanding of these processes and demonstrate the feasibility of such a combined approach. To this end, this proposal will focus on experimentally and numerically probing fundamental proof?]of?]principle questions related to the compatibility of ultrafast laser processing and polymer precursor solutions with optically trapped microspheres, and the ability to polymerize precursor solutions in the vicinity of microspheres without contamination or redeposition. Numerical studies will include finite difference time domain simulations for optical propagation through the liquid solution and polystyrene microspheres. Whereas, experiments will use both in situ imaging during laser processing and ex situ characterization to identify the material response.If successful, this research will have a profound impact on a number of diverse application areas where multiscale and multifunctional 3-D architectures are needed to advance functionality, such as in photonic materials, optoelectronics, microfluidics, tissue engineering, etc. Broad dissemination in these areas through publications and international presentations will ensure researchers gain widespread benefit from our studies. But perhaps more importantly, the success of this research will provide a demonstration of feasibility that is necessary to secure funding through traditional vehicles in order to further develop this potentially transformative materials processing approach. Finally, we envision this research as a seed for an international collaboration between researchers at Princeton and University of Erlangen-Nurenberg, School of Advanced Optical Technologies (UEN-SAOT) in Germany for 3-D laser based manufacturing. To this end, funds have been allocated to support the travel to UEN-SAOT where the PIs will help train other researchers and students in this developing technology.