Exploiting Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing for Fabrication of 3D Magnetic Nanowires

Three-dimensional lithography upon the 100nm-scale is now having a pronounced impact across a range of scientific disciplines. It has enabled the realisation of 3D photonic crystals with stop bands in the visible [1], magnetic micro-robots capable of carrying out targeted drug delivery [2], advanced cell scaffolds for cell differentiation [3] and magnetic nanostructures for advanced 3D data storage architectures [4].

At Cardiff, we have recently started to build a two-photon lithography system capable of achieving feature sizes of 70nm and a resolution of approximately 100nm. The system, which will be the first of its kind internationally, will be utilised to fabricate a range of state-of-the-art magnetic and biological nanostructures.

The student working upon this project will work within the groups of Ladak [5] and Langbein [6] in order to fabricate a range of 3D functional nanomaterials within the fields of nanomagnetism and artificial biological nanostructures. Examples of the types of structure fabricated include cylindrical magnetic nanowires, 3D networks of magnetic nanowires and 3D cell scaffolds. The structures will be subject to a range of characterisation procedures including scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and optical magnetometry.

The ideal candidate will have experience in optical lithography and processing, scanning probe microscopy as well as having an interest in nanostructured materials, magnetism and applications of nanoscience to biological sciences.