Development of Functional Polymer and Nanocomposite 3D-architectures by MultiPhoton Laser Structuring for Advanced Applications in Microdevices

• Applicant: Dr. Ievgeniia Topolniak
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 457594480

Advancing novel functional components, and, in particular, their simple and precise miniaturization and integration into microdevices, is crucial for further technological progress. The project proposed here targets the development and investigation of new functional 3D microstructures based on hybrid polymers (HP) and their nanocomposites (PNCs). Various novel HP photoresist provided within collaboration with IESL-FORTH (Greece) will be studied. Following that, the properties of fabricated architectures will be investigated with the range of highly sensitive techniques to define those with the noticeable performance. Meanwhile, the compositions will be incorporated and tested in Olfactory Membrane type Surface-stress Sensors (MSSs) chosen for the demonstrator case. Multi-Photon Laser Structuring (MPLS) will be used as a fabrication method, enabling high pattern resolution and genuine 3D freedom. While ensuring excellent fabrication control, the precise spatial insertion of polymeric elements in a sensor body can be assured with this technique. Altogether, the high performance of organic-inorganic compositions coupled with the capability of MPLS will enable the realization of microdevice solutions, in particular for MSSs, which are otherwise impossible to create. This project consists of two main parts that are interconnected through the given timeline to ensure the correct materials selection and their further investigation strategy. On one hand, the properties of MPLS-fabricated HP and PNC structures will be investigated to evaluate complex range of effects caused by material chemistry and fabrication parameters. Morphology, thermal and mechanical properties, anisotropic effects that will be characterized with specifically designed high-precision methods. This includes Intermodulation AFM, electron microscopies, flash-DSC, SAXS, Infrared-AFM, Confocal Raman and photo rheology. On the other hand, the sensing potential of these materials will be detected within MSS demonstrator as a focus of the second part of the project and correlated with the collected data on material properties. The HP and PNC architectures will be integrated in MSS and the devices will be tested with attention to their reproducibility, sensitivity and selectivity. Unique sensor test approaches will be developed and carried out in close collaboration between BAM in Berlin and the pioneers of MSS: the Olfactory Sensors group at NIMS Institute in Japan. Thereby, through better understanding of the underlying physical and chemical mechanisms involved during fabrication process, and by exploration of the resulting relationships of structure-property-sensor performance, new MPLS advanced functional materials and architectures will be created and more efficient strategies of advanced materials development will be proposed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants