At present, laser cutting technology is widely used in the processing of metal and non-metal materials, which can greatly reduce the processing time, reduce the processing cost and improve the workpiece quality. In the past, this technology is usually powered by high-energy beams, which are even hot enough to melt most materials.

Recently, scientists at McGill University have developed a milder and more accurate laser cutting technology using low-power visible light, which may overturn the previous appearance of this technology and lead to wider applications.

It is reported that this new process called "cold photo engraving" only requires a small part of the energy required by the traditional laser cutting technology to complete the precise laser cutting operation. Its laser power is only about 0.5-20 MW, which is much lower than the laser power used for metals, ceramics or polymers.

(laser cut "Pac Man" pattern. Image source: McGill University research team, H. Borchers et al.)

Tomislav fricic, a professor of chemistry at McGill University, said that the crystal structure module they designed can be cut with low-power light, and the accuracy is amazing. Different from traditional thermal cutting methods, this method can realize metal engraving and metal cutting with nanometer resolution. The researchers say this is because light can be focused more accurately than heat.

It is reported that they achieved this by developing a halogen bonded co crystal containing fluoroazobenzene derivative and a volatile component (dioxane or pyrazine). This co crystal can be cut and carved with low-power visible light, thus forming a unique cold photolithography process. The whole process aims to destroy the weak supramolecular interaction, rather than the covalent bond or ion structure as in the traditional laser beam or focused ion beam processing process.

According to the researchers, the new technology can also be used to carve complex patterns on the surface of various materials. They hope to develop a more sophisticated new method in the future, so that materials such as metals or ceramics can be easily shaped or cut under low-power light. At present, the team is studying the potential application of the above process in solar cell materials.

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