Three-dimensional micronanofabrication via two-photon-excited photoisomerization

In this letter, laser micronanofabrication via two-photon absorption initiated isomerization was proposed and explored. Experimentally a cis-form rich poly[2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylene] vinylene)-alt-(2,5-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene vinylene)] (DPO-PPV) was used as the precursory material, which underwent pinpoint molecular conformational change upon the near-infrared femtosecond laser irradiation. Due to pronouncedly reduced solubility of trans-configuration molecules, the precipitate at the tiny volumes was implemented as voxels to construct two- and three-dimensional micronanostructures. This mechanism may provide an alternative enabling tool other than two-photon absorption initiated polymerization of resins for designable micronanofabrication of photonic or optoelectronic devices including organic electroluminescent devices, particularly those based on PPV and its derivatives.