Brad Kobe

Initiator-Integrated 3D Printing Enables the Formation of Complex Metallic Architectures

Three-dimensional printing was used to fabricate various metallic structures by directly integrating a Br-containing vinyl-terminated initiator into the 3D resin followed by surface-initiated atomic-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and subsequent electroless plating. Cu- and Ni-coated complex structures, such as microlattices, hollow balls, and even Eiffel towers, were prepared. Moreover, the method is also capable of fabricating ultralight cellular metals with desired structures by simply etching the polymer template away. By combining the merits of 3D printing in structure design with those of ATRP in surface modification and polymer-assisted ELP of metals, this universal, robust, and cost-effective approach has largely extended the capability of 3D printing and will make 3D printing technology more practical in areas of electronics, acoustic absorption, thermal insulation, catalyst supports, and others.

i3DP, a robust 3D printing approach enabling genetic post-printing surface modification

Initiator integrated 3D printing, namely i3DP, was developed by incorporating a vinyl-terminated initiator into UV curable resin to make functional structural materials that enable genetic post-printing surface-initiated modification. Taking advantage of 3D printing and surface-initiated ATRP, the feasible i3DP makes 3D printed complex architectures possible for nearly any desired surface modification for various applications, for example, even pouring water into a sieve was readily achieved.

Facile One-Step Photolithographic Method for Engineering Hierarchically Nano/Microstructured Transparent Superamphiphobic Surfaces

It is of great value to develop a simple, controllable, and scalable method of making superamphiphobic surfaces. Here we present a facile one-step photolithographic method to engineer superamphiphobic surfaces consisting of photoresist micropillars decorated with nanoparticles of the same photoresist. The surface or coating is optically transparent and versatile, and can be fabricated on a broad range of substrates including stretchable elastomers. During the development of the micropillar array, photoresist nanoparticles are spontaneously grown on the micropillars by a well-controlled emulsification process of the un-cross-linked residual photoresist. This creates a hierarchical structure with a re-entrant and convex morphology which is the key for superoleophobicity. The chemical bonding between the nanoparticles and the micropillars is strong producing a robust and durable coating. This facile method is scalable and industry-applicable for a variety of applications such as self-cleaning, antifouling, and deicing/antifrosting.