Abstract: A method for nanomaterial formation and distribution within a matrix material that includes: preparing a gel matrix; patterning a reactive group within the matrix material; binding a seed material to reactive group within the matrix material, the seed material selected from a first set of gold nanomaterials, silver nanomaterials, and copper nanomaterials; binding a precursor reagent selected from materials to the seed material; adding a chalcogen to form a precursor reagent chalcogenide at sites of the precursor reagent via an ion exchange; adding final compound and optionally a ligand in solution and facilitating cation exchange replacing the precursor reagent chalcogenide with the final compound to form a nanomaterial within the matrix material.

Abstract: A system and method for nanofabrication that can enable complex three-dimensional nanostructures comprising: setting up a gel scaffold; patterning the gel scaffold with a photosensitive patterning material, wherein light is used to pattern the photosensitive patterning material into the gel scaffold to create the shape of a desired construct (i.e., creating a latent pattern of the desired constructs shape); depositing build material onto the latent pattern, thereby creating the construct; and shrinking the construct to the desired size. The system and method leverage the photosensitivity of the photosensitive molecule and high precision of light positioning for the fabrication of a high-resolution construct. The system and method may enable the fabrication of nano-constructs of simple and complex material designs, wherein the constructs may implement multiple distinct build materials and gradients of build materials.