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Integrated 3D printing of transparency-on-demand glass microstructure
Zhihan Hong1, Piaoran Ye1, Douglas A Loy2,3
1Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, 1630 E. University Blvd, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Advanced Optical Materials
|August 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed Transparency-on-Demand Glass Additive Manufacturing (TGAM) to control transparency in 3D printed glass micro-objects. This method uses polymeric silsesquioxane (PSQ) and two-photon polymerization (TPP) for tailored optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Glass is crucial for optics and photonics, offering excellent properties.
- Additive manufacturing enables complex glass element fabrication.
- Controlling transparency in 3D printed glass micro-objects is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an innovative method for controlling transparency in 3D printed glass.
- To enable the creation of glass micro-components with tailored optical transparency.
- To advance integrated manufacturing of controllable-transparency glass micro-structures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Transparency-on-Demand Glass Additive Manufacturing (TGAM).
- Employed polymeric silsesquioxane (PSQ) and two-photon polymerization (TPP).
- Precisely manipulated laser power, scanning speed, part thickness, and pyrolysis heating rate.
Main Results:
- Achieved desired transparency levels by controlling key printing and pyrolysis parameters.
- Demonstrated that monomer conversion, structure thickness, and pyrolysis heating influence PSQ oxidation and final transparency.
- Successfully created high-precision, variable-transparency glass micro-components.
Conclusions:
- TGAM offers a scalable and efficient solution for producing complex glass structures with tailored optical transparency.
- The developed technique facilitates integrated manufacturing of controllable-transparency glass micro-structures.
- This innovation unlocks new possibilities for advanced optical and photonic applications.
