Photopatternable superparamagnetic nanocomposite for the fabrication of microstructures
Event details
| Date | 22.11.2011 |
| Hour | 11:00 |
| Speaker | Marcel Suter, ETHZ |
| Location |
MXC315
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
This talk will present a magnetic polymer composite, the fabrication of microstructures and their use in microsystem applications. Magnetic polymer composites (MPCs) combine the magnetic characteristics of a filler material and the properties of a polymer matrix, enabling low cost fabrication processes. A photodefinable magnetic polymer composite is obtained by dispersing superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (diameters of 11.4 ± 3.4 nm, count average diameter by TEM) in a photosensitive epoxy, SU-8. The composite is used to fabricate magnetic microstructures such as microcantilevers and microrobots (e.g. artificial bacteria flagellas) which can be actuated by magnetic fields. MPCs with up to a 4 vol.% particle concentration can be structured by using conventional photolithography techniques or laser writing techniques based on two-photon polymerization (TPP). Minimal line widths of 314 nm are obtained with a 2 vol.% MPC using the TPP technique. The composite exhibits superparamagnetic properties and can be remotely heated by alternating magnetic fields at high frequencies due to the incorporated nanoparticles. MPCs are promising candidates to advance research in the field of micromanipulation, drug delivery, and self-assembly.
Practical information
- General public
- Free