K. Song, S. Jambhulkar, W. Xu
ASU Polytechnic,
United States
Keywords: 3D printing, polymer, nanoparticles, nanofibers, composites, sensors
Summary:
3D printing methods have advantages over conventional manufacturing of manufacturing customization, design flexibility, and less dependence on supply chains. The major challenge for most 3D printing platforms is their trade-off between manufacturing speed and printing resolutions, e.g., when one of them is improving, the other will be at a sacrifice. Our method reported here aims at increasing the fineness of printing features, at the same time, without the decrease of manufacturing rates. We demonstrated the uses of a few nanoparticles, such as carbon nanofibers (one-dimensional nanofibers) and MXene (two-dimensional nanolayers), to show the nanoscale manipulation of nanoparticle orders. First, stereolithography exhibited the design of different surface patterning, upon which the particles deposited with a variety of methods. The surface patterning was then utilized as templates for organizing nanoparticle assembly. (i) The dip-coating formed bands with controlled regularity, a morphology significantly crucial in structural and functional material systems. (ii) The capillary force showed precise nanoparticle stacking management, a structural feature determining high sensitivity to strains or chemicals. Our hybrid manufacturing combining 3D printing and conventional coating techniques shed light on new methods for delicate architectures and multifunctional devices.