A sinterless, low-temperature route to 3D print nanoscale optical-grade glass

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bauer, J.; Crook, C.; Baldacchini, T.
• 署名单位: Helmholtz Association; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; University of California System; University of California Irvine; Edwards Lifesciences
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-10845
• DOI: 10.1126/science.abq3037
• 发表日期: 2023-06-02
• 页码: 960-966
• 关键词: resin

摘要

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of silica glass is dominated by techniques that rely on traditional particle sintering. At the nanoscale, this limits their adoption within microsystem technology, which prevents technological breakthroughs. We introduce the sinterless, two-photon polymerization 3D printing of free-form fused silica nanostructures from a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) resin. Contrary to particle-loaded sacrificial binders, our POSS resin itself constitutes a continuous silicon-oxygen molecular network that forms transparent fused silica at only 650 & DEG;C. This temperature is 500 & DEG;C lower than the sintering temperatures for fusing discrete silica particles to a continuum, which brings silica 3D printing below the melting points of essential microsystem materials. Simultaneously, we achieve a fourfold resolution enhancement, which enables visible light nanophotonics. By demonstrating excellent optical quality, mechanical resilience, ease of processing, and coverable size scale, our material sets a benchmark for micro- and nano-3D printing of inorganic solids.