Novel Functional Materials via 3D Printing by Vat Photopolymerization

Abstract

The growing demand for advanced functional materials has led to the development of various additive manufacturing techniques (AM), with vat photopolymerization (VP) emerging as a key technology. VP is a versatile light-based AM technique for producing complex 3D structures from a wide range of functional materials. VP material diversity stems from its compatibility with various monomers, oligomers, solvents, and fillers, enabling for the fabrication of materials with tailored properties. This article systematically examines recent advancements in VP fabrication and analyzes strategies for incorporating functional elements into 3D-printed material structures. We investigate the spectrum of functionalities achieved in novel materials by categorizing design into four main groups: The use of functional additives, the molecular design of the photopolymerizable system, post-processing procedures, and functional structural architectures. Specifically, we analyze recent reports on novel functional materials in the field of VP, such as conductive, energy-storing, optical, high-performance, stimuli-responsive, self-healing, shape-memory, recyclable, bioengineering, and biomedical materials. The article also discusses characterization methods required for the fabrication of state-of-the-art materials. We conclude by underscoring the immense versatility of VP for fabricating functional and multifunctional materials, and its potential for future advancements in applications such as energy, medicine, robotics, and physical AI.