International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

Special Issue on ‘3D Printing of Micro/Nano Structures’

Guest Editor: Professor Nicholas X. Fang

University of Hong Kong

Guest Editor: Associate Professor Qi Ge

Southern University of Science and Technology

Introduction

From organs-on-chip to compliant microrobots, micro/nano transducers are emerging with brand new applications in our daily life due to their unique mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties. Several patterning techniques for production of micro/nano devices and systems have already been developed, such as photolithography, electron beam lithography, focused ion beam and nanoimprint techniques. However, the available geometries directly implemented by those means are limited to the 2D or 2.5D mode. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, greatly facilitates complex 3D geometries to be formed at prescribed micro/nano architectures on demand. Therefore, it is highly desirable to apply 3D printing to personalized massive manufacturing of micro/nano 3D structures.

The aim of this special theme is to provide a forum for researchers and practitioners to review the state-of-the-art and technological landscape, to assess the outstanding challenges and to draw a technological roadmap in 3D printing of micro/nano transducers, with an emphasis on the need of new materials, new structure design, and new applications that can be met by future micro/nano 3D printing processes techniques. Extreme manufacturing parameters with ultrasmall size, ultrahigh precision, complex geometry and high performance beyond current processing capabilities are strongly encouraged.

Possible topics, within this scope, include but are not limited to: