Invited by Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interface Science of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIPCCAS) , China-Japan Joint Laboratory on Advanced Photonics, and Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics in bionic intelligent interface science center, Dr Satoru SHOJI from The University of Electro-Communications gave an academic report on Laser induced alignment of single wall carbon nanotubes into 3D micro/nano polymer structures by means of two-photon lithography on Feb. 24, 2016. 

In the report, Dr Satoru SHOJI introduced the technique of two-photon lithography and its applications in making arbitrary 3D structures, for example, 3D spring and microbull. Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), which consist of a rolled-up single layer graphene with a 1 nm diameter cylindrical shape, exhibit intrinsic optical properties as well as their remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. These intrinsic characteristics make it possible to develop novel electromechanical devices, such as photomechanical actuators, and those devices have been already developed in macroscale. In this presentation, recent progress on the development of carbon nanotube/polymer composites by means of two-photon lithography was reported. The uniform dispersion as well as the control of the orientation of carbon nanotubes in the cured polymer microstructures have been achieved. Polarized Raman micro-spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to reveal proof of the distribution and orientation of carbon nanotubes. The single wall carbon nanotubes were uniaxially aligned and aggregated to form a bundle in the polymeric structures. Unique functions of such carbon nanotubes/polymer composite micro/nano-structures towards optical and electronic applications have been reported. 

After the lecture, Dr Satoru SHOJI visited Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and had a further discussion. Dr Satoru SHOJI’s research interests are the development of new laser techniques in two-photon lithography. He has a strong cooperation relationship with Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics.