They develop an innovative technique to create functional microstructures with micrometric precision

An innovative technique for the fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures with micrometric precision has been developed by some UPV researchers based on vacuum lithography. The technique is presented in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

The technique developed by the researchers of the Microfluidics Cluster allows the creation of microstructures on a flat substrate that are thinner than a human hair, achieving a resolution similar to the photolithography used in the manufacture of electronic microchips. Using flexible molds and negative pressure (vacuum), liquid or gelled materials such as nanoparticles, sensitive gels and functional polymers can be molded with an accuracy of less than 25 microns, achieving complex and efficient three-dimensional shapes that can be copied in a single step.

In addition, this technique allows the integration of different materials at the functional level into a single substrate with micrometric resolution. This allows you to design and manufacture custom multifunctional items without losing accuracy and repeatability.

Unlike conventional methods such as photolithography or 3D printing, vacuum lithography combines high resolution, versatility in the use of materials and ease of operation without the need for expensive equipment or complex processes.

This new method can allow a wide range of applications, such as miniaturized chemical and biological sensors for the health, environmental and industrial fields; advanced cell cultures through platforms that can be investigated in controlled microenvironments; the creation of gold and conductive polymer nanoparticle models in biomedical nanotechnology; or portable devices for rapid diagnosis.