High-aspect 3D two-photon polymerization structuring with widened objective working range (WOW-2PP)

Researchers have used two-photon polymerization to fabricate tall and intricate structures with submicrometre resolution. Two-photon polymerization is a popular scheme whereby a focused laser beam polymerizes a photosensitive liquid to create three-dimensional objects. However, structures fabricated using this technique are usually limited in height by the working distance of the microscope lens used to focus the laser into the sample. Boris Chichkov and co-workers from the Laser Zentrum Hannover in Germany have now adapted two-photon polymerization with a vertical motion system that allows the microscope objective and its protective cover glass to be moved down into the reservoir of the liquid photoresist. As a result, they were able to fabricate a variety of high-aspect-ratio structures, including tubes, funnels, hour-glass shapes and a miniature model of the Tokyo SkyTree.

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