Additive micro-/nano manufacturing of non-sensitized SZ2080^TM employing femtosecond-laser VIS-light oscillator

The usability of non-amplified laser systems in additive manufacturing via femtosecond-laser direct writing is presented. Photo-structuring of hybrid organic-inorganic SZ2080TM pre-polymer without using any photo-initiator is realized using ~100 fs oscillator operating at 517 nm wavelength and 76 MHz repetition rate. The proof of concept is experimentally demonstrated and benchmarking 3D woodpile nanostructures, micro-scaffolds, free-form micro-object “Benchy” and bulk micro-cubes are successfully produced. Also, the outlook for using fundamental 1030 nm wavelength excitation of oscillators for optimal fabrication conditions is discussed. The validated method opposes the necessity to use higher pulse energies and lower repetition rates of amplified lasers for structuring non-photosensitized polymers. The experimental work is of high importance for the principal understanding of laser-enabled nanoscale 3D additive manufacturing and widens technology’s field of applications where the avoidance of photo-initiator is preferable or is even a necessity, such as micro-optics, nano-photonics, and biomedicine.