3D grafting via three-photon induced photolysis of aromatic azides

Utilization of multiphoton absorption has led to important advances in microscopy and photofabrication. Herein, our recent results on precise immobilization of molecules within 3D polymeric matrices by means of multiphoton grafting are presented. Assessment of nonlinear absorption properties of difunctional aromatic azide, selected for this purpose was performed by the Z-scan technique. It indicates that a three-photon absorption process is responsible for photolysis of this compound. Successful photografting for production of 3D patterns with lateral resolution down to 4 μm was achieved. Our results demonstrate the potential of the developed three-photon grafting method for precise 3D site-specific functionalization of different materials.