High‐Precision Printing of Complex Glass Imaging Optics with Precondensed Liquid Silica Resin (Adv. Sci. 18/2022)

Abstract

In article number 2105595, Douglas A. Loy, Rongguang Liang, and co-workers develop a liquid silica resin (the left molecule in the picture) to print optical element with high precision through two-photon polymerization. The printed optics is then converted to inorganic glass (silicon dioxide, the right molecule in the picture) through thermal treatment. Precision complex glass optical systems, such as micro-objective (in the picture), can be fabricated. This research demonstrates that 3D printing of glass imaging optics has a high potential for precision optical imaging applications.

Phosphor‐in‐Silica‐Glass: Filling the Gap between Low‐ and High‐Brightness Solid‐State Lightings

“…In addition, it is also possible to reduce the densifying temperature of silica glass to lower than 900 °C by developing precondensed liquid silica resin. [ 10 ] We thus believe that silica glass will be a versatile and robust platform for multifunctional composite materials.…”

“…Silica glass with an ultrahigh softening temperature (1650 °C) is an ideal matrix material that can potentially overcome the above drawbacks of low‐melting glasses (see Table S1, Supporting Information, for a detailed comparison). Using amorphous silica nanoparticles [ 9 ] or siloxane‐based polymers [ 10 ] as the raw material makes silica glass accessible to a relatively low temperature (800−1300 °C). Yet it still seems impossible for phosphors to survive after a long‐time sintering (>3 h) for obtaining phosphor‐in‐silica‐glass (PiSG) converters, considering the previous belief that a mild (temperature <800 °C) and/or fast (holding time <30 min) sintering is a prerequisite for suppressing the undesired interfacial reaction.…”

Bio‐Inspired Compact, High‐Resolution Snapshot Hyperspectral Imaging System with 3D Printed Glass Lightguide Array

“…Figure 3c is the SEM image of the printed micro‐spectrometer consisting of a prism and a collimation lens with grating on the flat surface, and Figure 3d is the SEM image of a printed micro‐objective. [ 20 ]…”

“…3D printing is an emerging fabrication method for precision optics, it is attractive due to its flexibility in building complex shapes through an additive process. [ 11–22 ] Most of the research in printing optics to date has focused on organic polymer or resin‐based systems using stereolithography (STL), [ 13 ] direct ink writing (DIW), [ 14 ] projection microstereolithography (PµSL), [ 15,16 ] and two‐photon polymerization (TPP) processes. [ 19–22 ] Optical element printed with organic polymer or resin through UV curing process has a number of limitations in hardness, transparency in UV and NIR, thermal resistance, chemical resistance and tenability.…”

“…[ 11–22 ] Most of the research in printing optics to date has focused on organic polymer or resin‐based systems using stereolithography (STL), [ 13 ] direct ink writing (DIW), [ 14 ] projection microstereolithography (PµSL), [ 15,16 ] and two‐photon polymerization (TPP) processes. [ 19–22 ] Optical element printed with organic polymer or resin through UV curing process has a number of limitations in hardness, transparency in UV and NIR, thermal resistance, chemical resistance and tenability. Another issue is that the printed part becomes yellowish gradually, the transmission in short wavelength is further degraded.…”