Synthesis of two-photon absorbing copolymer containing photo-crosslinkable unit for three-dimensional microfabrication

Abstract

Two-photon absorption is attracting considerable attention owing to its various applications in the areas of three-dimensional imaging, optical data storage, and three-dimensional lithographic microfabrication (3DLM) through two-photon-induced polymerization (TPIP). To make three-dimensional polymeric structures, two-photon cross-linkable semi-solid acrylate resins and two-photon absorbing chromophores are needed. Additionally, it is necessary to add some polymer binder such as poly (styrene-co-acrylonitrile). In this study, to reduce the complexity about making the matrix resin, one-body type molecular structure was synthesized and applied to make three-dimensional lithographic microfabrication. Also, highly viscous copolymer containing two-photon absorbing chromophore and cinnamate unit as a photo-crosslinkable group was synthesized and evaluated under a two-photon laser system. With this copolymer, we made the viscous resin very easily by dissolving the powdery material in a solvent. Therefore, we could make three-dimensional microstructures from the solution environment by using this novel two-photon absorbing copolymer.