The lasers in today's laser printers for paper printouts are tiny. In contrast, 3D laser printers that print three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures have so far required large and expensive laser systems. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Heidelberg University are now using a different process instead.
Two-stage absorption works with tiny blue laser diodes, which are significantly cheaper than the femtosecond lasers previously used. This makes it possible to work with much smaller printers. The laser power required is also significantly lower than that of conventional laser pointers. However, this printing process requires the use of specific photoresists, which took several years to develop. The next goal is to miniaturize the other components of the 3D laser nanoprinter. A publication entitled "Two-step absorption instead of two-photon absorption in 3D laser nanoprinting" was also produced as part of the joint Cluster of Excellence "3D Matter Made to Order".
