Scientists develop low-power nanoscale laser cutting technology that only requires 0.5-20 megawatts

Scientists develop low-power nanoscale laser cutting technology that only requires 0.5-20 megawatts

At present, laser cutting technology is widely used in the processing of metal and non-metal materials, which can greatly reduce processing time, reduce processing costs and improve workpiece quality. Historically, this technology is usually powered by high-energy beams that are even hot enough to melt most materials.

And recently, scientists at McGill University (McGill University) have developed a gentler and more precise laser cutting technology using low-power visible light, which may subvert the previous face of this technology and derive a wider range of applications.

According to reports, the new process, called "cold photo-carving", requires only a fraction of the energy required by traditional laser cutting techniques to complete precise laser cutting operations. Its laser power requires only about 0.5-20 megawatts, which is much lower than that used for metals, ceramics or polymers.

Tomislav Friscic, a professor of chemistry at McGill University, said that the crystal structure modules they designed can be cut with low-power light with amazing precision. Unlike traditional thermal cutting methods, this method enables engraving cutting with nanometer resolution. That's because light can be focused more precisely than heat, the researchers say.

They did this by developing a halogen-bonded co-crystal of a fluorine-containing azobenzene derivative with a volatile component (dioxane or pyrazine) that can be cleaved with low-power visible light , engraving, thus forming a unique cold lithography process. The entire process targets the disruption of weak supramolecular interactions, rather than covalent bonds or ionic structures as in conventional laser beam or focused ion beam processing.

According to the researchers, the new technique can also be used to engrave complex patterns on the surfaces of various materials. In the future, they hope to develop a more sophisticated new method that would allow materials such as metals or ceramics to be easily shaped or cut under low-power light. Currently, the team is investigating the potential application of the above process in solar cell materials.