The two-photon polymerization technology - TPP
The Microlight 3D machines use the two-photon polymerization technology (TPP) to create their 3D structures.
Based on the non-linear two-photon absorption phenomenon, our technology creates a solid 3D-printed structure from a photoactivable material.
Two photons can be absorbed simultaneously by the photo-activated-monomer in the very small volume called "voxel" at the focal point of our pulsed-laser (image above). A chemical reaction starts, and the liquid monomer becomes a solid polymer inside the voxel.
With the right combination of optical elements and monomer-material, the voxel diameter may be as small as 0.1 µm ! That is why our technology is perfectly adapted for ultra-high resolution 3D printing.
Led by our proprietary software, the Microlight machine moves its laser voxel inside the material to create a solid structure.
The laser can even go through polymerized parts, so the voxel is moved freely in three dimensions inside the monomer, therefore any shape can be 3D-printed with our technology !
A wide range of materials can be used, such as photo-polymer, bio-compatible materials, and even proteins and other biomaterials.
You may discover some research works done using our 3D-micro-printing technology in the scientific publications listed below.
Want to go further ?
See our machines
Scientific publications
The Microlight 3D technology was used for the following publications :Two-photon controlled sol–gel condensation for the microfabrication of silica based microstructures. The role of photoacids and photobases
J.Kustra, E.Martin, D.Chateau, F.Lerouge, C.Monnereau, C.Andraud, M.Sitarz, P.L.Baldeck and S. Parola
RSC Adv., 2017,7, 46615-46620 - DOI: 10.1039/C7RA08608C
Rapid Prototyping of Polymeric Nanopillars by 3D Direct Laser Writing for Controlling Cell Behavior
Nina Buch-Månson, Arnaud Spangenberg, Laura Piedad Chia Gomez, Jean-Pierre Malval, Olivier Soppera & Karen L. Martinez
Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 9247 (2017)
doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09208-y
Bubble-based acoustic micropropulsors: active surfaces and mixers
N. Bertin, T. A. Spelman, T. Combriat, H. Hue, O. Stéphan, E. Lauga and P. Marmottant,
Lab Chip, 2017, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/C7LC00240H
Propulsion of bubble-based acoustic microswimmers.
N. Bertin, Tamsin A. Spelman, O. stephan, L. Gredy, M. Bouriau, E. Lauga and P. Marmottant
Phys. Rev. Appl. 4 (2015) 064012.
A simple and direct reading flow meter fabricated by two-photon polymerization for microfluidic channel
Yi-Jui Liu, Juin-Yi Yang, Yung-Mau Nie, Chun-Hung Lu, Eric Dowkon Huang, Chow-Shing Shin, Patrice Baldeck, Chih-Lang Lin
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, June 2014, Springer Science DOI: 10.1007/s10404-014-1440-9
Recent advances in two-photon 3D laser lithography with self-Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip lasers.
P.L. Baldeck, P. Prabhakaran, C.-Y. Liu, M. Bouriau, L. Gredy, O. Stephan, T. Vergote, H. Chaumeil, J.-P. Malval, Y.-H. Lee, C.-L. Lin, C.-T. Lin, Y. Hsun Hsueh, T.-T. Chung
Proc. SPIE (2013) 8827:6.
Nonlinear Photochemistry and 3D Microfabrication with Q-Switched Nd:YAG Microchip Lasers.
P.L. Baldeck, T. Scheul, M. Bouriau, O. Stephan, J.-P. Malval, C.-L. Lin, C.-T. Lin, C.-L. Tseng, C. Huang, T.-T. Chung
Proc. SPIE (2013) Vol. 8113 811309-‐3.
Laser microstructuration of three-dimensional enzyme reactors in microfluidic channels
Monica Iosin • Teodora Scheul • Cle´ment Nizak • Olivier Stephan • Simion Astilean • Patrice Baldeck
Microfluid Nanofluid (2011) 10:685–690
Microstructuration of protein matrices by laser-induced photochemistry
M. Iosin, O. Stephan, S. Astilean, A. Dupperay, P.L. Baldeck
Journal of optoelectronics and advanced materials, Vol. 9, No. 3, March 2007, p. 716 – 720
Three-dimensional microfabrication by two-photon-initiated polymerization with a low-cost microlaser
I. Wang, M. Bouriau, P.L. Baldeck,
Optics Letters, Vol. 27, No. 15, 2002, pp. 1348-1350.