Researchers Advance Nanoscale 3D Printing With Faster, Higher Fidelity Method
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new nanoscale 3D printing method called grayscale projection two-photon lithography. This technique significantly improves both the speed and structural fidelity of printed components at the nanoscale.
Why it matters
Advancements in high-fidelity nanoscale manufacturing are critical for the future of optics, advanced computing, and biomedical device development.
Comparison of nanoscale 3D-printed structures produced without grayscale patterning (top row) and with grayscale projection two-photon lithography (GP-TPL) (bottom row). The top row shows scanning electron microscope images with defects such as bulging struts, uneven surfaces, collapsed internal features, and distorted curved structures, highlighted by red arrows. The bottom row shows the same structures fabricated with GP-TPL, exhibiting smoother surfaces, more uniform lattice geometry, well-defined curved features, and significantly thinner, higher-fidelity bridges as narrow as 53 nanometers. Insets provide magnified views of the improved lattice quality. Scale bars range from 50 micrometers to 53 nanometers.
Newswise — Researchers at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering have developed a new approach to nanoscale 3D printing that improves both speed and fidelity, overcoming a challenge that has limited the technology's broader use in manufacturing.
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