Future Developments in Printing Technologies

𝟒𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 is a cutting-edge technology that takes 3D printing to the next level. By using materials that can change shape when exposed to certain stimuli like heat, water, or light, solid objects that adapt to their environment can be created. This opens up a world of possibilities for healthcare, aerospace, and architecture industries, where objects can self-assemble or repair themselves. The future of manufacturing is exciting, and 4D printing is poised to revolutionize how we create and interact with objects. At The University of Queensland's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology AIBN, scientists are using new liquid metal polymers to print 4D structures. These structures can perform a range of mechanical tasks with the help of infrared lasers. Dr. Liwen Zhang and Dr. Ruirui Qiao, who lead the research, explained that their lab had developed unique preparation methods that enable them to create 4D designs that are not only solid and durable but can also bend, grasp, lift, and release items up to five times their own weight. Additionally, these structures can revert to a pre-programmed shape. Read more about their research here: https://lnkd.in/efqV2_FZ #robotics #research

“Two-photon polymerization is a potential method for nanofabrication to integrate nanomaterials based on femtosecond laser-based methods. Challenges in the field of 3D nanoprinting include slow layer-by-layer printing and limited material options as a result of laser-matter interactions. In a new report now on Science Advances, Chenqi Yi and a team of scientists in Technology Sciences, Medicine, and Industrial Engineering at the Wuhan University China and the Purdue University U.S., showed a new 3D nanoprinting approach known as free-space nanoprinting by using an optical force brush. This concept allowed them to develop precise and spatial writing paths beyond optical limits to form 4D functional structures. The method facilitated the rapid aggregation and solidification of radicals to facilitate polymerization with increased sensitivity to laser energy, to provide high accuracy, free-space painting much like Chinese brush painting on paper. Using the method, they increased the printing speed to successfully print a variety of bionic muscle models derived from 4D nanostructures with tunable mechanical properties in response to electrical signals with excellent biocompatibility.” https://lnkd.in/gzCrdn9Z

Nanophotonic structures are a foundation for the growing field of light-based quantum networks and devices enabled by their ability to couple with and manipulate photons. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are uniquely suited to complement this range of devices due to their solution-processability, broad tunability, and near-unity photoluminescence quantum yields in some cases. To bridge the gap between them, electrohydrodynamic inkjet (EHDIJ) printing serves as a highly precise and scalable nanomanufacturing method for deterministic positioning and deposition of attoliter-scale QD droplets. This includes heterointegration in devices that are challenging to create by conventional subtractive semiconductor processing, such as QDs emitters coupled to substrate-decoupled nanoscale resonant structures. In a recent paper published in Advanced Material Technologies, we demonstrated the first successful application of EHDIJ printing for the integration of these colloidal QDs into suspended nanophotonic cavities, achieving selective single-cavity deposition for cavity pairs as close as 100 nm apart. These results motivate the development of future suspended hetero-integrated devices that utilize EHDIJ printing as a sustainable, additive, and scalable method for quantum photonics nanomanufacturing. The paper can be found at: https://lnkd.in/ggPS6wuC

Amirali Khalili: The method introduced involves embedded 3D printing to fabricate structural electrolytes using polymerized ionic liquids (pILs). This technique addresses limitations in current fabrication methods, allowing for complex 3D forms with programmable properties. The modular design enables the creation of lightweight, free-standing lattices with diverse functionalities. The study characterizes rheological and mechanical behaviors, showcasing self-sensing capabilities during cyclic compression. The approach has broad applications in sensors, soft robotics, bioelectronics, and energy storage devices. Read more details: https://lnkd.in/eQSMz9af • • #3Dprinting • #AdditiveManufacturing • #3Dprinter • #3Dprinted • #tranpham • www.tranpham.com • Like 👍 what you see ► Repost ♻️, or Hit the Bell 🔔 to follow me. #polymerscience #3dprinting