Thursday, 22 January 2026
Scientists have created 3D printed surfaces featuring intricate textures that can be used to bounce unwanted gas particles away from quantum sensors, allowing useful particles like atoms to be delivered more efficiently, which could help improve measurement accuracy.
The researchers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy created intricate, fine-scale surface textures that preferentially bounce incident particles in particular directions. This can help to keep unwanted particles out of the way. The team, led by L. Hackermueller, demonstrated this by applying it to a surface-based vacuum pump and tripled the rate at which it removed nuisance gas particles.
The research - Exploiting complex 3D-printed surface structures for portable quantum technologies, has been published today in the journal Physical Review Applied.
Quantum sensors use microscopic quantum objects to measure magnetism, gravity and other effects with unprecedented precision. They are set to revolutionize medical diagnostics, navigation and scientific research. The extreme sensitivity of these quantum objects means that they mustn’t be bumped or jostled by air molecules, so they only work under vacuum. The air around us is dense enough that gas particles bump into each other all the time, but in a strong vacuum particles can travel meters or even kilometres before hitting another gas particle.
Controlling high-vacuum gas dynamics is critical to ensure the accuracy of measurements and although quantum sensors typically operate in highly controlled, strong vacuums, undesirable particles still occasionally get in and introduce noise.
To combat this the Nottingham team created an ice hockey puck-sized system by 3D printing titanium alloy into different patterned surfaces—hexagonal pockets and conical protrusions—designed to increase the number of times an incident atom made contact with the surface. The system fits into the ports of a commercial vacuum chamber.
We are still discovering the most effective surface textures; promising candidates include a hexagonal pattern similar to a honeycomb and an intricate three-dimensional pattern derived from geometry-inspired artwork. This relatively low-tech innovation can substantially improve advanced quantum technologies.”
The authors tested how strongly the structured surfaces could enhance surface-based vacuum pumps, measuring up to 3.8 times the pumping rate per unit area for the samples tested. Simulations have found achievable surface patterns that may offer up to a ten-fold increase.
PhD student, Ben Hopton, co-author on the paper said: “What’s exciting about this work is that relatively simple surface engineering can have a surprisingly large effect. By shifting some of the burden from active pumping to passive surface-based pumping, this approach has the potential to significantly reduce, or even remove, the need for bulky pumps in some vacuum systems, allowing quantum technologies to be far more portable.”
Story credits
More information is available from Nathan Cooper on Nathan.cooper@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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