Issue 4, 2016

Infrared-light induced curing of photosensitive resins through photon up-conversion for novel cost-effective luminescent 3D-printing technology

Abstract

Here we explore the ground-breaking photonic approach for infrared-light induced photo-polymerization of organic resins by using photon up-conversion in rare-earth-doped luminescent materials. In particular, we show outstanding high-intense near-infrared to ultraviolet-blue up-conversion emissions from Tm3+-doped K2YbF5 crystals, energies of which perfectly match the activation energy of light-sensitive resins that contain photo-initiators for radical polymerisation, widely used in medical surgery, odontology or implants applications, as well as in microstereolithography three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. This innovative technique, in which a cost-effective and low-power continuous wave commercial near-infrared laser diode is used, establishes a significant step forward to the state-of-the-art, by offering lower nominal radiation power and exposure time requirements than those of simultaneous two-photon absorption techniques based on powerful femtosecond lasers. We also present quasi-instantaneous “laser-writing”-like printing of 3D-structures, which exhibit visible luminescence under infrared light, for novel applications in 3D security-ink stamps or fluorescent labels for visual identification of orthodontic adhesives.

Graphical abstract: Infrared-light induced curing of photosensitive resins through photon up-conversion for novel cost-effective luminescent 3D-printing technology

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Oct 2015
Accepted
01 Dec 2015
First published
01 Dec 2015

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 801-806

Author version available

Infrared-light induced curing of photosensitive resins through photon up-conversion for novel cost-effective luminescent 3D-printing technology

J. Méndez-Ramos, J. C. Ruiz-Morales, P. Acosta-Mora and N. M. Khaidukov, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 801 DOI: 10.1039/C5TC03315B

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