Exploiting Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing for Fabrication of 3D Magnetic Nanowires

100纳米尺度的三维光刻技术现在正在对一系列科学学科产生显著影响。它实现了可见[1]阻挡带的3D光子晶体、能够进行靶向药物输送的磁性微型机器人[2]、用于细胞分化的先进细胞支架[3]以及用于先进3D数据存储架构的磁性纳米结构[4]。在卡迪夫，我们最近开始建造双光子光刻系统，能够达到70纳米的特征尺寸和大约100纳米的分辨率。该系统将是国际上第一个此类系统，将被用于制造一系列最先进的磁性和生物纳米结构。从事这一项目的学生将在Ladak[5]和Langbein[6]的团队中工作，以便在纳米磁性和人造生物纳米结构领域制造一系列3D功能纳米材料。制造的结构类型的例子包括圆柱形磁性纳米线、磁性纳米线的3D网络和3D细胞支架。这些结构将受到一系列表征程序的影响，包括扫描电子显微镜、扫描探针显微镜和光学磁测量。理想的应聘者将拥有光学光刻和加工、扫描探针显微镜以及对纳米结构材料、磁性和纳米科学在生物科学中的应用感兴趣的经验。

Three-dimensional lithography upon the 100nm-scale is now having a pronounced impact across a range of scientific disciplines. It has enabled the realisation of 3D photonic crystals with stop bands in the visible [1], magnetic micro-robots capable of carrying out targeted drug delivery [2], advanced cell scaffolds for cell differentiation [3] and magnetic nanostructures for advanced 3D data storage architectures [4]. At Cardiff, we have recently started to build a two-photon lithography system capable of achieving feature sizes of 70nm and a resolution of approximately 100nm. The system, which will be the first of its kind internationally, will be utilised to fabricate a range of state-of-the-art magnetic and biological nanostructures. The student working upon this project will work within the groups of Ladak [5] and Langbein [6] in order to fabricate a range of 3D functional nanomaterials within the fields of nanomagnetism and artificial biological nanostructures. Examples of the types of structure fabricated include cylindrical magnetic nanowires, 3D networks of magnetic nanowires and 3D cell scaffolds. The structures will be subject to a range of characterisation procedures including scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and optical magnetometry. The ideal candidate will have experience in optical lithography and processing, scanning probe microscopy as well as having an interest in nanostructured materials, magnetism and applications of nanoscience to biological sciences.