Electroless metallization of three-dimensionally printed polymer microstructures for microrobotic applications

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C16.0061

Key words (English)

two-photon polymerization; 3D printing; electroless depositon; antibacterial coatings

Research programs (English)

COST-Action MP1407 - ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESSING METHODOLOGIES AND CORROSION PROTECTION FOR DEVICE AND SYSTEMS MINIATURIZATION

Short description (English)

Cost-effective water treatment technologies are urgently required due to rapid increase in population and clean water scarcity. Recently, micro- and nanorobots have been employed as potential miniaturized vectors for environmental applications. At the Multi-scale Robotics Lab, wireless magnetic micro- and nanorobots have been developed and their locomotion in liquids has been demonstrated using magnetic actuation. Applications such as drug delivery, sensing, cargo transport, and manipulation have been successfully addressed. In this project, we want to extend the capabilities of our small agents towards environmental applications such as organic detoxification and bacterial killing. Specifically, we will focus our efforts in developing or modifying processes for fabricating three-dimensional micro- and nanoarchitectures by combining two-photon polymerization and electroless deposition. Electroless deposition is an autocatalytic electrochemical technique, which allows for conformally coating substrates. In addition, electroless enables the incorporation of functional nanoparticles during the growth of the film. In this project, we will target three types of functional electroless coatings: (a) magnetic, for the locomotion; (b) protective; (c) photocatalytic/bactericidal.This proposal is in line with the objectives of the COST Action as it involves the use of an electrochemical processing technique to functionalize miniaturized robotic platforms.

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: ETH Zürich - Head of the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems CLA H 1.1

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; BE; BG; CZ; DK; FR; MK; DE; EL; HU; IE; IL; IT; LT; NO; PL; PT; RO: RS; SI; ES; SE; TR; UK

Abstract (English)

See short description

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C16.0061