3D photostructuring at submicon scales of functional magnetic nanocomposite materials – PhotoMagnet

PHOTOMAGNET proposal proposes to develop new sol-gel matrices incorporating Magnetic Nanoparticles (NPM) homogeneously dispersed and which are photostructurable in 3D structures of sub-micron resolutions by two photon stereolithography (TPS). Last of all, demonstration of the applicative potentialities of these µ-structured functional nanocomposite materials will be achieved through two proofs of concept corresponding to a multifunctional material: photonic crystals and magnetothermal-µ structures.

This project is multidisciplinary and enforce the complementary skills of the three research groups involved in different scientific developments areas:

i) Synthesis of functionalized NPM compatible with the selected matrix and exhibiting controlled magnetic properties will be a key initial step in this project.

ii) The second ambitious challenge lies in the development of host matrices for NPM that will be photostructurable by two photon stereolithography. Several types of matrices are considered, hybrid sol-gel matrices (silane / acrylate) and matrices based on oxo-metallic clusters (Zr and Ti) whose structuration by TPS was recently validated.

iii) The interest will be demonstrated through two applications: resonant magneto-optical 3D structures and 3D microstructures presenting magneto thermic properties. In both cases, the TPS technique associated with these two photostructurable magnetic materials is the only technique to fabricate functional 3D complex microstructures. Since TPS is a rapid prototyping technology, it enables to modify at will the design of structures in order to achieve their looked-for properties.