3-D Direct Laser Writing (IMAGE)

American Institute of Physics

3-D Direct Laser Writing

Caption

3-D direct laser writing based on two-photon polymerization can be used to create custom-designed tips. (a) Schematic drawing of the writing process on the cantilever using two-photon polymerization. The inset shows a scanning electron microscope image of the tip apex. To obtain a sharp and defined tip apex, it was written with optimized (but slower) parameters so that the surface of the tip apex is smoother than the rest of the structure. A large variety of tips can be fabricated in this way. (b) High (20 microns) and thin (5 microns at the base) tip. (c) Extremely long tip with a height of 100 microns. (d) Spherical tip with diameter of 10 microns. (e) Tip in the shape of the famous Swiss mountain "Matterhorn." (f) Protruding tip that is visible from the top during scanning. (g) Shrunk conical tip after carbonization through pyrolysis (decomposition caused by exposure to high temperatures).

Credit

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

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