At Stanford University’s Congreve Lab, scientists Tracy H. Schloemer and Daniel N. Congreve are delving into the realm of light manipulation, specifically focusing on the practical applications of altering light’s color. Their groundbreaking research has a wide range of implications, spanning from advancements in 3D printing to more efficient solar energy utilization. This innovative research stems from a process called upconversion, which has the ability to convert low-energy photons into higher-energy ones. While the phenomenon of upconversion has been studied for several decades, recent improvements in materials and techniques have made it a more viable and practical solution.
Schloemer and Congreve employ a groundbreaking technique known as triplet-triplet annihilation. By using readily available materials and low-power lasers, they have achieved significant breakthroughs in their research. This research also involves a novel application of 3D printing, where the color of light is manipulated to enhance the precision and efficiency of additive manufacturing. Traditionally, 3D printing resin is cured using blue or UV photons. However, Schloemer and Congreve have pioneered a new approach by using a red laser beam instead. The key to their 3D printing technique lies in the phenomenon of upconversion, which occurs at specific light intensities. By focusing the red laser beam on a particular point within the resin pool, they can increase its intensity, triggering upconversion and generating a small dot of blue light at the focal point. This blue light then cures the resin, enabling the creation of intricate 3D objects within the resin pool. Remarkably, this entire process can be accomplished using a low-power laser, similar to a regular laser pointer.
Another noteworthy application of their work involves enhancing the efficiency of solar cells. Currently, single-junction solar cells can only harness a fraction of the available sunlight due to a mismatch between the incident light colors and the energy bandgap of the cells. By upconverting low-energy photons into higher-energy ones, Schloemer and Congreve hope to maximize solar cell performance.
This new method of 3D printing not only offers the potential for rapid and precise nanoscale printing but also eliminates the issue of resin degradation caused by high-powered lasers. It opens up a world of possibilities for advanced 3D printing applications, revolutionizing industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and electronics.
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“Why did the 3D printer go to therapy? Because it had too many layers of unresolved issues!”
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