Microperiodic structures: Direct writing of three-dimensional webs

摘要: Applications are emerging that require the creation of fine-scale structures in three dimensions — examples include scaffolds for tissue engineering1, micro-fluidic devices2 and photonic materials control light propagation over a range frequencies3. But writing methods such as dip-pen nanolithography4 ink-jet printing5 either confined to two or beset by wetting spreading problems. Here we use concentrated polyelectrolyte inks write three-dimensional microperiodic directly without using masks. Our technique enables us arbitrary patterns whose features nearly orders magnitude smaller than those attained with other multilayer printing techniques6.