Combining two-photon lithography with laser ablation of sacrificial layers: A route to isolated 3D magnetic nanostructures

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured functional materials are important systems allowing new means for intricate control of electromagnetic properties. A key problem is realising a 3D printing methodology on the nanoscale that can yield range materials. In this article, it shown two-photon lithography, when combined with laser ablation sacrificial layers, be used to realise such vision and produce nanomaterials complex geometry. Proof-of-principle first by fabricating planar magnetic nanowires raised above substrate exhibit controlled domain wall injection propagation. Secondly, artificial spin-ice (3DASI) structures fabricated, whose switching probed using optical magnetometry. We show careful analysis magneto-optical Kerr effect signal comparison micromagnetic simulations, depth dependent information obtained from 3DASI lattice. The work paves way materials, which exploit additional physics provided non-trivial geometries.