Printing 3D metallic structures in porous matrix

The fabrication of metallic micro/nanostructures has great potential for advancing optoelectronic microdevices. Over the past decade, femtosecond laser direct writing (FsLDW) technology has played a crucial role in driving progress in this field. In this study, we used silica gel glass as a supporting medium and employed FsLDW to reduce gold and palladium ions using 7-Diethylamino-3-thenoylcoumarin (DETC) as a two-photon sensitizer, enabling the printing of conductive multilayered and three-dimensional (3D) metallic structures. We systematically examined how the pore size of the silica gel glass affects the electrical conductivity of printed metal wires. This 3D printing method is versatile and offers expanded opportunities for applying metallic micro/nanostructures in optoelectronic devices.