Functional Materials for 3D Laser Printing

This tutorial will cover the fundamentals of two-photon lithographic methodologies based on inherently-functional photoresists and the current state-of-the-art in this field, with particular focus on functional micro-devices. It will introduce the possibilities offered by both functional homogeneous formulations and nanocomposites, and discuss their advantages and limitations relative to different applications. Attention will also be given to the characterization of the properties and performances of the final microstructures and devices. During the tutorial, the state-of-the-art of these technologies will be presented and we will discuss how they relate to similar systems commonly employed in other additive manufacturing platforms. Finally, we will explore the possibilities offered by the combination of two-photon approaches with standard lithographic techniques for the fabrication of functional MEMS through 3D microprinting.