让超强材料“长”出来，新技术实现先打印再选材

Core Insights - A new 3D printing technology developed by a research team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne allows for the creation of complex, high-strength, and high-density metal and ceramic components using ordinary hydrogels, overcoming the limitations of traditional photopolymer-based printing methods [1][2] Group 1: Technology Overview - The new additive manufacturing concept involves selecting materials after the 3D printing process rather than before, which is a significant departure from existing methods [1] - The process begins with printing a three-dimensional scaffold using hydrogel, which is then immersed in a metal salt solution to allow metal ions to penetrate and convert into uniformly distributed metal nanoparticles through a chemical reaction [1] - This "growth cycle" can be repeated multiple times, resulting in a composite material with a very high metal content [1] Group 2: Performance and Applications - The technology has successfully printed complex mathematical lattice structures made of iron, silver, and copper, which exhibit high specific strength and intricate geometric features, making them ideal for aerospace and energy device applications [2] - The new materials can withstand pressures 20 times greater than those produced by traditional methods, with a shrinkage rate of only 20%, significantly lower than the 60% to 90% shrinkage seen in conventional techniques [2] - This technology is particularly suitable for manufacturing lightweight, high-strength, and complex three-dimensional devices, including sensors, biomedical devices, and energy conversion and storage systems [2]