The precise placement of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) into two- or three-dimensional (2D/3D) micro-/nanoarchitectures is a key for the construction of integrated functional devices. However, long-pending challenges still exist in high-resolution 3D assembly of semiconductor NWs. Here, we have achieved directional assembly of zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs into nearly arbitrary 3D architectures with high spatial resolution using two-photon polymerization. The NWs can regularly align in any desired direction along the laser scanning pathway. Through theoretical calculation and control experiments, we unveiled the laser-induced assembly mechanism and found that the nonoptical forces are the dominant factor leading to the directional assembly of ZnO NWs. A ZnO-NW-based polarization-resolved UV photodetector of excellent photoresponsivity was fabricated to demonstrate the potential application of the assembled ZnO NWs. This work is expected to promote the research on NW-based integrated devices such as photonic integrated circuits, sensors, and metamaterial with unprecedented controllability of the NW’s placement in three dimensions.
Intelligent micromachines that respond to external light stimuli have a broad range of potential applications, such as microbots, biomedicine, and adaptive optics. However, artificial light-driven intelligent micromachines with a low actuation threshold, rapid responsiveness, and designable and precise 3D transformation capability remain unachievable to date. Here, a single-material and one-step 4D printing strategy are proposed to enable the nanomanufacturing of agile and low-threshold light-driven 3D micromachines with programmable shape-morphing characteristics. The as-developed carbon nanotube-doped composite hydrogel simultaneously enhanced the light absorption, thermal conductivity, and mechanical modulus of the crosslinked network, thus significantly increasing the light sensitivity and response speed of micromachines. Moreover, the structural design and assembly of asymmetric microscale mechanical metamaterial unit cells enable the highly efficient additive nanomanufacturing of 3D shape-morphable micromachines with large dynamic modulation and spatiotemporal controllability. Using this strategy, the world's smallest artificial beating heart with programmable light-stimulus responsiveness for the cardiac cycle is successfully printed. This 4D printing method paves the way for the construction of multifunctional intelligent micromachines for bionics, drug delivery, integrated microsystems, and other fields.
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