27 March 2024 | Ziyong Li, Yanwen Jia, Ke Duan, Ran Xiao, Jingyu Qiao, Shuyu Liang, Shixiang Wang, Juzheng Chen, Hao Wu, Yang Lu & Xiewen Wen
A method for 3D printing transparent fused silica glass with sub-micron features using one-photon micro-stereolithography (OμSL) is presented. The technique involves the use of a nanocomposite precursor, which is a mixture of silica nanoparticles and a photopolymerizable monomer. This precursor is designed to have high transparency, low viscosity, and good stability, enabling the creation of complex 3D structures with sub-micron resolution. The OμSL process allows for the fabrication of high-quality fused silica glass components with intricate geometries and millimetric dimensions. The printed components undergo post-processing steps, including sintering, to achieve high-quality, defect-free, and optically transparent fused silica glass. The method demonstrates exceptional performance in terms of resolution and speed, surpassing existing techniques. The resulting fused silica glass exhibits excellent optical properties, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, making it suitable for applications in micro-optics, microfluidics, mechanical metamaterials, and engineered surfaces. The study also highlights the potential of the OμSL technique for creating superhydrophobic micro-surfaces and droplet manipulation systems, as well as for mechanical metamaterials with high specific strength. The method offers a promising solution for the fabrication of high-precision fused silica glass components with sub-micron features, bridging the gap between macro and nano-scale manufacturing.A method for 3D printing transparent fused silica glass with sub-micron features using one-photon micro-stereolithography (OμSL) is presented. The technique involves the use of a nanocomposite precursor, which is a mixture of silica nanoparticles and a photopolymerizable monomer. This precursor is designed to have high transparency, low viscosity, and good stability, enabling the creation of complex 3D structures with sub-micron resolution. The OμSL process allows for the fabrication of high-quality fused silica glass components with intricate geometries and millimetric dimensions. The printed components undergo post-processing steps, including sintering, to achieve high-quality, defect-free, and optically transparent fused silica glass. The method demonstrates exceptional performance in terms of resolution and speed, surpassing existing techniques. The resulting fused silica glass exhibits excellent optical properties, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, making it suitable for applications in micro-optics, microfluidics, mechanical metamaterials, and engineered surfaces. The study also highlights the potential of the OμSL technique for creating superhydrophobic micro-surfaces and droplet manipulation systems, as well as for mechanical metamaterials with high specific strength. The method offers a promising solution for the fabrication of high-precision fused silica glass components with sub-micron features, bridging the gap between macro and nano-scale manufacturing.