Additive manufacturing of multicomponent glasses with enhanced optical properties via sol-gel

Glass is the cornerstone material for various applications in modern society and industry owing to its fascinating and unique properties. Herein, a versatile sol-gel protocol is proposed for the manufacturing of multicomponent complex-shaped glass structures with enhanced optical properties via photopolymerization-based processes, specifically UV-assisted Direct Ink Writing (UV-DIW) and Digital Light Processing (DLP). The photocurable, all-liquid inks comprise tetraethyl orthosilicate, triethoxymethylsilane, zirconium butoxide and/or titanium isopropoxide for the formation of an inorganic backbone tethered to the organic photopolymerization-derived network through 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate, which serves both as photocurable monomer and silica source. The flexibility of our sol-gel system offers access to various multicomponent compositions, including the use of bulk coloring pigments. Such formulations enable the fabrication of components with remarkable refractive index (1.548–1.572) and the highest Abbe number vd hitherto reported for 3D-printed parts (64.85). In addition, sintering temperatures are decreased to 1000°C, far below those typically required in conventional particle-based approaches (>1400°C). This work provides novel fabrication frameworks and technological enhancements, expanding the potential of glass additive manufacturing techniques for scaled-up and rapid production.