Laser Interference Lithography based 4D-printing of Nanomaterials
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bedfordshire
Department Name: Inst for Res in Applicable Computing
Abstract
By tackling the limitations of the current 4D-printing of nanomaterials, this project seeks to initiate a new process paradigm, laser
interference lithograph (LIL) based 4D-printing, for rapidly and accurately producing truly 3D structural and large volume 4D
nanomaterials. It achieves this by combining the advantages of laser interference lithograph with the advanced intelligent inks,
producing state-of-the-art capacity of 4D nanomaterials manufacturing. This new method has the potential to the mass-production of
4D nanomaterials and to the market intake of the nanomaterials. In our approach, LIL patterning is applied and the patterns are
stitched to form truly 3D nanostructures and then the infiltration of intelligent inks is performed. The approach is based on some
established principles and prior art gained within the consortium but is yet to be further explored.The project creates new knowledge
on LIL and metalens for 3D patterning and nanometrology, bioactivity-toxicity of 4D Nanomaterials and micro-structures influence to
battery performance/life.
The research and innovation objectives are to integrate volumetric laser interference lithograph scanning and deep exposure for
rapid, accurate, truly 3D structures fabrication, to develop optimal alignment between interference pattern units and across
patterned layers based on the state-of-the-art nanometrology and characterisation for accurate formation of large volume 3D
nanostructures, and to accomplish controlled infiltration for the formation the 4th dimension of nanomaterials. The new technique
will be pioneered on biomedicine and engineering applications. The objectives are ambitious and require international level
collaborations. The project addresses the collaborations by initiating a long-term collaboration platform among consortium members
and beyond. It also emphasis staff development via various joint research and innovation and training activities, particularly, the
carefully arranged secondments
interference lithograph (LIL) based 4D-printing, for rapidly and accurately producing truly 3D structural and large volume 4D
nanomaterials. It achieves this by combining the advantages of laser interference lithograph with the advanced intelligent inks,
producing state-of-the-art capacity of 4D nanomaterials manufacturing. This new method has the potential to the mass-production of
4D nanomaterials and to the market intake of the nanomaterials. In our approach, LIL patterning is applied and the patterns are
stitched to form truly 3D nanostructures and then the infiltration of intelligent inks is performed. The approach is based on some
established principles and prior art gained within the consortium but is yet to be further explored.The project creates new knowledge
on LIL and metalens for 3D patterning and nanometrology, bioactivity-toxicity of 4D Nanomaterials and micro-structures influence to
battery performance/life.
The research and innovation objectives are to integrate volumetric laser interference lithograph scanning and deep exposure for
rapid, accurate, truly 3D structures fabrication, to develop optimal alignment between interference pattern units and across
patterned layers based on the state-of-the-art nanometrology and characterisation for accurate formation of large volume 3D
nanostructures, and to accomplish controlled infiltration for the formation the 4th dimension of nanomaterials. The new technique
will be pioneered on biomedicine and engineering applications. The objectives are ambitious and require international level
collaborations. The project addresses the collaborations by initiating a long-term collaboration platform among consortium members
and beyond. It also emphasis staff development via various joint research and innovation and training activities, particularly, the
carefully arranged secondments
People |
ORCID iD |
| Dayou Li (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Li T
(2024)
Laser Interference Additive Manufacturing: Mask Bundle Shape Bionic Shark Skin Structure.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Wang M
(2024)
The effects of carbon ion implantation on wettability, abrasion, thermal and anti-corrosion stabilities of laser ablated super-hydrophobic Nitinol surface
in Journal of Materials Research and Technology
| Description | With regard to 3+1 LI energy distribution, simulations confirm • The polarization angle has no effect on the period of the light field. • The variation of the polarization angle can significantly increase the diversity of light field patterns. • The variation of the polarization angle can affect the contrast of the light field. The contrast of the light field can be obtained by numerical calculation 4+1-beam LIL doubles the depth interference area and produces different interference patterns in different interference areas. |
| Exploitation Route | A new proposal of "Laser-engineered Advanced Structures for Energy Revolution (Laser)" has been already submitted to EU HE MSCA 2024 SE 01 (Proposal number: 101236602) to further the research carried out in this award. We are in the process of developing a new proposal to EU HE Programme based on the achievements of L4DNANO, together with the current consortium and new partner who is specialist in smart materials. |
| Sectors | Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Title | spatial parasitic motion principle-based stick-slip nanopositioning platform |
| Description | spatial parasitic motion principle-based stick-slip nanopositioning platform. 2-DOF stick-slip nanopositioning platform based on the spatial parasitic motion principle to achieve precision scanning motion in the XY directions. Considering the asymmetric parallel structure of the compliant tripod mechanism along the two axes, the platform employs a serial configuration of linear guides and decouples the driving signals to eliminate cross-axis coupling motion in the undesired directions. Based on the serial-parallel configuration, the mass difference along the two directions is reduced to only that of the connecting unit and a pair of linear guides, thereby narrowing the performance gap with the serial configuration. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It is required to implement spatial precision scanning motion generation method for nanostructure measurement. |
| Title | t-SNE visualisation algorithm for nano antibody |
| Description | The algorithm projects high-dimensional data to 2/3-dimensions. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The algorithm projects high-dimensional data to 2/3-dimensions, allowing people whiout biologic kackground to see and to undertand the structure of nano antibody. |
| Description | 2-DOF stick-slip nanopositioning platform based on the spatial parasitic motion principle to achieve precision scanning motion in the XY directions (Led by Warwick) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We both are L4DNANO consortium members. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We both are L4DNANO consortium members. |
| Impact | 2-DOF platform. Considering the asymmetric parallel structure of the compliant tripod mechanism along the two axes, the platform employs a serial configuration of linear guides and decouples the driving signals to eliminate cross-axis coupling motion in the undesired directions. Based on the serial-parallel configuration, the mass difference along the two directions is reduced to only that of the connecting unit and a pair of linear guides, thereby narrowing the performance gap with the serial configuration. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | 3+1-beam LIL for inverse opal structure fabrication (Led by Warwick) |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | provide idea of 3-beam and n+1-beam LIL |
| Collaborator Contribution | Simulations and parameter optimisation for fabricating different nano structures. |
| Impact | Our work found that the change of beam incident angle in 3-beam LIL does not affect the light field pattern and contrast. This means that 3+1-beam laser interference system has high overall stability and is not easily affected by environmental perturbations |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | 4+1-beam LIL achieving a true 3D structure fabrication |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | optical path design, simulation and analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | nano structure measurement. |
| Impact | 4+1-beam LIL achieves truly 3D nano structure fabrication.The depth a 4-beam LIL can achieve is D, such as D=d/cos?, and the interference area is of the shape of diamond. When the 5th beam is applied centrally and vertically, which has the diameter of d_0=2d/sin?, the depth is doubled and the interference area increased to the entire shaded area. The 4+1-beam LIL also allows different interference patterns in the diamond-shaped area and in the expanded areas. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | AI analysis on nano antibody structure |
| Organisation | Aarhus University |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Nano antibody clustering based on the correlation of the spectum and the functionalities of the antibody, leading to the identification of the nano groups that have the same charactereistics. We developed a PCA algorithm for data dimension reduction and a t-SNE algorithm to make the structure of nano antibody visible for people who do not have biologic background. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Design and understak experiments and collect data from the experiments, provide nano and biologic background knowledge. |
| Impact | A research paper was drafted but Aarhus realised errors in their data. We are waiting for the new data. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Handshake secondment |
| Organisation | Element Energy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration is a part of staff exchange agreed in L4DNANO project. We introduced our strength on AI-based modelling and robotcics and on laser inteference lithography which we developed in our previous EU H2020 FET project NanoStencil. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nano sensing techniques |
| Impact | Not yet. This trip laid foundation for further collaborations under L4DNANO project. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | AFM & SPM Graduate School 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A graduate school on AFM, FluidFM and SICM with theory, hands on sessions. The school also included a lecture on statistics for SPM data analysis and a discussion on career development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.rms.org.uk/rms-event-calendar/2024-events/afm-spm-meeting-2024.html |