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 v d 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.