Solvent-Free Silsesquioxane Self-Welding for 3D Printing Multi-Refractive Index Glass Objects

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Previous liquid silica resin (LSR) for 3D printing glass offered high accuracy but suffered from moisture sensitivity.
• Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-based materials provide water stability but exhibit significant shrinkage.
• A need exists for advanced resins that combine high resolution, environmental stability, and minimal shrinkage for glass 3D printing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel polymeric silsesquioxane (PSQ) resin for high-resolution 3D printing of glass objects.
• To overcome the limitations of existing resins, specifically moisture sensitivity and high shrinkage.
• To enable the fabrication of functional glass micro-optics with tunable properties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the two-photon polymerization (2PP) technique for high-resolution 3D printing.
• Synthesized a PSQ resin incorporating zirconium moieties to tune refractive index.
• Investigated the self-welding capability of the printed components.

Main Results:

• Achieved nanostructures with feature sizes below 80 nm using the PSQ resin.
• Demonstrated tunable refractive indices by incorporating zirconium, facilitating micro-optic fabrication.
• Observed self-welding between printed components, enabling multi-component micro-optic assembly.

Conclusions:

• The developed PSQ resin is a promising material for high-resolution, moisture-stable 3D printing of glass.
• The ability to tune refractive indices and self-weld components opens new avenues for fabricating complex glass micro-optics.
• This advancement significantly contributes to the field of advanced glass manufacturing for micro- and nano-scale applications.