Laser induced forward transfer: Towards digital nanoprinting

The Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) process consists of the irradiation, using a pulsed laser, of a thin film (the donor) deposited onto a transparent substrate to induce the ejection of a small part of the irradiated volume and its deposition on a receiver substrate set in close proximity. This simple technology has been widely investigated to print, with high spatial resolution, a wide range of materials in solid and liquid phase and for many applications like electronics, sensors, displays or tissue engineering [1]. In this contribution, we present two important challenges of LIFT: First, the potential of laser printing at high velocity and second a new version of the LIFT process to extend the applications of LIFT towards nano-printing.