1) Wider research context

Photopolymerization techniques have significantly advanced spatiotemporally resolved polymer synthesis: By shining light on a liquid formulation of reactants it is possible to polymerize it only within the illuminated area, enabling the 3D-structuring of soft matter materials layer by layer. However, these 3D synthesis techniques, also known as vat photopolymerization, lack access to a broad range of material properties and typically produce 3D structures made from a single polymer type with homogenous properties throughout the structure. To increase the functionality of such photopolymerized objects, discriminating material properties within one structure is highly desirable. Therefore, multi-property vat photopolymerization has become a hot topic.

2) Objectives

In this project I utilize the synergy of my obtained knowledge to establish multi-property printing from one single photosensitive resin by breaking new ground in orthogonal photopolymerization.

3) Methods

Two key concepts for strictly orthogonal material synthesis from one formulation will be unlocked:

WP1: Switching polymerization modes via temperature-gated reactivity will yield different material properties from the same material precursor. This approach avoids dilution of a bulk photosensitive fomulation with orthogonal, non-reacting precursors during synthesis.

WP2: The combination of wavelength and temperature as spatiotemporal reactivity-gates will facilitate discrimination of different monomer types in the same photosensitive resin to exclusively synthesize one material with one set of reaction conditions and another material with a second set.

WP3: These two concepts are implemented into a custom-designed vat photopolymerization setup, which will allow spatiotemporal control of temperature via IR-laser. The underlying chemistry allows access to a wide range of material precursors and thus makes an unprecedentedly broad range of material properties accessible. This will enable one-step printing of antagonistic properties: hard/soft, (non)birefringent, (in)transparent, (non)degradable. The herein pioneered initiation strategies and photopolymerization reactions could lay the foundation for one-step printing of functional devices in biomedical and digitalization applications.

4) Level of innovation

Fundamental insights into temperature-dependence of photopolymerization processes, which have largely been conducted at room temperature so far, will be generated. These will not only enable fully orthogonal multi-property vat photopolymerization but also inform and advance other research objectives in the field. I firmly believe that this project has the potential to unhinge several current paradigms of vat photopolymerization and that my broad range of project experiences has equipped me with the skillset to successfully conduct the proposed research and mitigate associated risks.

5) Primary researchers involved

The PI will conduct this work primarily.