K. Song, S. Jambhulkar
Arizona State University,
United States
Keywords: composites, 3d printing, nanoscale
Summary:
3D printing methods have advantages over conventional manufacturing of rapid prototyping, material saving, 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 printing resolution is improving, the printing speed will be sacrificed. Our method reported here aims to increase the fineness of printing features simultaneously without decreasing manufacturing rates. To show the nanoscale manipulation of nanoparticle orders, we demonstrated the uses of a few nanoparticles, such as carbon nanofibers (one-dimensional nanofibers) and MXene (two-dimensional nanolayers). First, SLA-based 3D printing exhibited the design of different surface patterning, upon which the particles got deposited with a variety of methods. The surface patterning was useful as a template 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 is highly potential as a new method for delicate architectures and multifunctional devices.