Vilnius University (VU) Scientists from the Laser Research Center of the Faculty of Physics, together with co-authors from Greece, have published a groundbreaking study on nanoscale laser 3D printing in the prestigious journal "Light: Advanced Manufacturing".
This printing is widely used in fields such as micro-optics, medicine and advanced materials. Typically, this technique uses special chemicals called photoinitiators, which are required for the photopolymerization (printing) processes. However, these materials are not suitable for biomedical applications, for example, due to toxicity and autofluorescence (self-luminosity).
"In our latest study, we present a new approach to high-resolution laser 3D printing. We exploit the unique ability of femtosecond lasers to affect a material that polymerizes without a photoinitiator. Using three different laser wavelengths, we show that small nanoscale structures can be printed efficiently and quickly by choosing the right laser exposure parameters - light intensity. This opens up the possibility of safer and wider applications, avoiding risks due to unwanted chemical residues or interference in sensitive devices," says Dr. Dimitra Ladika about the advantages of this work.
Prof. Mangirdas Malinauskas, head of the Laser Nanophotonics Laboratory at the VU Laser Research Center, says that international collaboration has accelerated the development of photoinitiator-free materials for nanoscale laser 3D printing.
"This paves the way for cleaner, more flexible and environmentally friendly methods and expands the possibilities of additive manufacturing," the scientist says.
This work for Dr. D. Ladika is an important step that strengthens her connections and career prospects at the Laser Research Center. The scientist interned at VU in 2023 and is one of the young researchers who won the VU Foundation competition for scientific activities in 2024. At the beginning of this year, Dr. D. Ladika joined the Laser Nanophotonics Group and is currently contributing to progress in the areas of 3D microstructure formation and characterization with her work.
"Dimitra's joining our group enriches our capabilities in the fields of multi-photon lithography, precision 3D printing techniques, and complex microstructures. I am very pleased that Antanas Butkus, a graduate of the Faculty of Physics of Vilnius University and a laureate of the Professor Algis Petras Piskarskas scholarship for the best bachelor's thesis in the field of laser physics, is involved in this research. At the same time, we are strengthening our institution's ties with other renowned research centers, such as IESL-FORTH, creating opportunities for regular student and staff exchanges," says Prof. M. Malinauskas.
