High-resolution light field prints by nanoscale 3D printing

Abstract

A light field print (LFP) displays three-dimensional (3D) information to the naked-eye observer under ambient white light illumination. Changing perspectives of a 3D image are seen by the observer from varying angles. However, LFPs appear pixelated due to limited resolution and misalignment between their lenses and colour pixels. A promising solution to create high-resolution LFPs is through the use of advanced nanofabrication techniques. Here, we use two-photon polymerization lithography as a one-step nanoscale 3D printer to directly fabricate LFPs out of transparent resin. This approach produces simultaneously high spatial resolution (29–45 µm) and high angular resolution (~1.6°) images with smooth motion parallax across 15 × 15 views. Notably, the smallest colour pixel consists of only a single nanopillar (~300 nm diameter). Our LFP signifies a step towards hyper-realistic 3D images that can be applied in print media and security tags for high-value goods.

Stiff Shape Memory Polymers for High-Resolution Reconfigurable Nanophotonics

“…This pixel resolution is ∼8.3 times higher than that in our previous study on sub-micrometer-scale patterning of SMPs, 32 benefiting from the single nanopillar pixel adopted. As a single nanopillar 33 can generate a vivid structural color, the cross-talk between adjacent pixels is strongly suppressed. By the programming process, the as-printed structures can be programmed into a dark patch (Figure 3c), with the pillars bending and some parts touching each other (Figure 3d,e).…”

“…For this study, we use the basic nanopillar geometry that has been shown to modulate the amplitude and phase of light at the single-pillar level. , The design principle is shown schematically in Figure aI. The fabricated nanopillars can be programmed into the deformed state, by applying stress at an elevated temperature where structures are in the rubbery state.…”

3D Nanoprinting by Electron-Beam with an Ice Resist

“…Two-photon polymerization is the most precise 3D printing process that has been used for fabricating complex structures with submicrometer resolution. − To create arbitrary 3D nano-objects, focused electron-beam induced deposition (FEBID) is the state-of-the-art technique that has achieved sub-100 nm feature sizes. , Different from electron–gas , or electron–liquid , interaction in FEBID, electron-beam lithography (EBL) is an alternative e-beam-based fabrication technique that relies on electrons interacting with solid resists. , Although it is mainly used for creating planar nanopatterns, 3D objects can also be formed by grayscale EBL or in a layer-by-layer fashion. Similar to that in stereolithography, each patterned layer has to suffer a tedious and lengthy process including coating resists, e-beam exposure, and chemical development .…”

Full Geometric Control of Hidden Color Information in Diffraction Gratings under Angled White Light Illumination

“…TPL is a nanofabrication technique whereby a high-intensity femtosecond laser polymerizes a localized volume in the photoresist through nonlinear absorption . By scanning the laser through the photoresist, complex 3D structures with sub-micrometer resolution are fabricated. − As this technique enables great design flexibility and geometric control of the structures, it is suitable for fabricating gratings with multiple sets of hidden color information that have potential applications in information storage and security watermarks. , …”