Research

Paradigm Shift: From "Sculpting" to "Painting"

The semiconductor and photonic chips that underpin our modern data-driven society rely heavily on top-down subtractive processes, which demand giant fabrication plants, enormous electricity, and vast amounts of ultra-pure water. We aim to break free from this "dependency on massive infrastructure," which not only imposes heavy environmental burdens but also stagnates innovation.

Our approach is bottom-up (additive manufacturing). Instead of carving material away, we use desktop printers to "place exactly the necessary amount of material exactly where it is needed." Requiring neither vacuum equipment nor cleanrooms, our "Table-top Fabrication" (the democratization of manufacturing) will forge the new common sense in optical technology.

The "Liquid Glass" and the Aesthetics of Self-Assembly

The key to print-based optical device manufacturing lies not in complex chemical structures, but in the functional beauty of organic materials (soft materials) that seamlessly combine a "high refractive index" with "microfabrication compatibility."

We precisely control these materials—which can be thought of as "liquid glass"—at the picoliter scale. Immediately upon printing, the droplets harness their own surface tension to self-assemble, spontaneously forming atomically smooth surfaces (optical microcavities) without requiring any polishing. By leveraging the forces of nature, we bring integrated photonic components, such as low-threshold lasers, to life.

The Three "Brushes" to Freely Draw Optical Circuits

• Inkjet: Our primary brush, which deposits picoliter droplets in a non-contact manner to construct nanostructures on demand through self-assembly.

• Micro/Nano-dispensing: A contact-based fabrication technique that manipulates surface tension to directly draw waveguides onto substrates, much like the art of calligraphy.

• Nanoscratch & Liquid Flow Microetching: Innovative "subtractive" technologies that employ mechanical probes or microfluidic streams for localized material removal in the open air, completely eliminating the need for plasmas or harmful chemicals (resists and masks).

Beyond the Chip: A "Photonic Ecosystem" in Harmony with the Earth

Breaking free from rigid silicon chips breathes new life into devices through "flexibility." This breakthrough enables the creation of optical sensor networks that can be applied like stickers to any curved surface, biological system, or natural infrastructure.

The era of "mass produce, carve, and discard" is over. Instead, we print devices on the spot when needed, and once they have served their purpose, they can be returned to nature or easily disassembled and reconfigured. Our research continues to accelerate toward the realization of true sustainability—a photonic ecosystem where technology aligns perfectly with the natural cycles of our planet.