Development of a new methodology for building three-dimensional nanostructures

Three dimension (3D) printers are commercially available with resolution as high as micrometers. Further miniaturization would require development of both materials, instruments, as well as methodology in order to attain required spatial precision to reach nanometer scale. This presentation reports our recent progress in producing 3D nanostructures using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) based method. Nanometer scale lines, cross-grids, and pyramids were constructed following designed geometry and size. The products were also characterized in situ using AFM to demonstrate the fidelity and spatial precision. The enabling aspects of 3D nanoprinting should have significant impact on a broad range of applications including tissue engineering, biomaterials, biomimetics, nanophotonics materials, and nanodevices.