The Prospects of Nanoscale 3D Printing for Structural and Functional Applications

Abstract Micro- and nanostructural fabrication is oftentimes limited to planar top-down approaches such as classical lithography, ion- or laser ablation. This makes complex three-dimensional structures akin to macroscopic structures rather challenging to produce. However, recent developments in polymerization techniques enable a true free-from additive manufacturing approach with a resolution of tens of nanometers. Here we provide a short overview of the technique, detail initial experiments that achieved tailorable mechanical and optical properties, and outline future prospects.