127000 DPI laser printing

This article, on the assurances of scientists, fit on human hair

Thanks to the revolutionary laser printing technology, this review can be printed in color, and on a surface that does not exceed the size of a human hair. The details of this invention in the field of nanotechnology devoted to the publication in the collection of scientific articles Nature Nanotechnology from December 14, 2015 .

The innovative development of researchers at the Danish Technical University (DTU) has completely changed the concept of laser printing technology, because now you can work with both high-resolution data and color images of unprecedented quality and microscopic dimensions.

Using similar technology, DTU Nanotech and DTot Fotonik specialists managed to reproduce a color copy of Mona Lisa, smaller than the pixel of the iPhone Retina display. New laser technology allows you to print images with an incredible resolution of 127,000 DPI. For comparison, weekly and monthly magazines are usually printed 300 DPI.
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To print microscopic images, a special nano-structured surface is needed - rows of small columns, where the diameter of each is only 100 nanometers. Then this structured surface is covered with a 20 nm-layer of aluminum. When transmitting from one nanocolumn to another, the laser pulse in turn heats each of them, after which they melt and deform. The processing temperature can reach 1500 ° C, albeit in just a few nanoseconds, which prevents other elements from overheating.

The intensity of the laser beam, which determines the degree of deformation of the columns, sets the print color. Weak laser pulses lead to a slight deformation of the nanocolumns, which gives blue and violet hues. High-power laser pulses cause severe deformation, and, therefore, when reflected from the surface of the nanocolocation, orange and yellow will prevail.

Professor N. Asger Mortensen from DTU Fotonik explains:

“Any change in column geometry affects their ability to absorb light. For the human eye, reflected light is the color that we perceive. For example, if a column absorbs blue light, it remains red, which means the surface will appear red. ”

According to researchers at the Danish Technical University, the possibilities of applying new laser printing technology are enormous. Professor Anders Christensen from DTU Nanotech clarifies:

“It will be possible to save data that is invisible to the naked eye. These are serial numbers, barcodes of products, and much more. In addition, this technology allows to take measures to combat fraud and fakes, because such labeling of products will be extremely difficult to fake. So much easier to distinguish the original from the copy.

The scope of application of the laser printing technology can be quite extensive, in particular, including the personalization of products such as mobile phones with a unique design, nominal elements, etc. Foreign suppliers of auto parts such as dashboards and buttons, are seriously interested in the development, because its use greatly simplifies production. At present, it is necessary to adapt various dashboards for certain car parts, in particular, when it comes to air conditioners, USB, cigarette lighters, etc.

Innovative development has already been patented and now researchers can focus on improving it, which will introduce technology into operation instead of the usual laser printers installed at home and in offices.