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Open in a separate window Three-dimensional selective laser sintering printing was utilized to produce porous, solid objects, in which the catalytically active component, Pd/SiO2, is attached to an easily printable supporting polypropylene framework. Physical properties of the printed objects, such as porosity, were controlled by varying the printing parameters. Structural characterization of the objects was performed by helium ion microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray tomography, and the catalytic performance of the objects was tested in the hydrogenation of styrene, cyclohexene, and phenylacetylene. The results show that the selective laser sintering process provides an alternative and effective way to produce highly active and easily reusable heterogeneous catalysts without significantly reducing the catalytic efficiency of the active Pd/SiO2 component. The ability to control the size, porosity, mechanical properties, flow properties, physical properties, and chemical properties of the catalyst objects opens up possibilities to optimize devices for different reaction environments including batch reactions and continuous flow systems.

In this study, we develop mathematical educational practices for students to explore ancient buildings using GeoGebra, Augmented Reality and 3D printing. It is an interdisciplinary approach, intertwining history, culture, mathematics, and engineering. For example, the 3D modelling of Cheomseongdae in Korea and the Temple of Dendera in Egypt can enable students to practice a multimodal set of traditional and innovative learning approaches. Students might use their mathematical knowledge to reflect on architectural and cultural history in a modeling task.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing was utilized to fabricate highly porous carbonous electrodes. The electrodes were prepared by using a mixture of fine graphite powder and either polyamide-12, polystyrene, or polyurethane polymer powder as SLS printing material. During the printing process the graphite powder was dispersed uniformly on the supporting polymer matrix. Graphite’s concentration in the mixture was varied between 5 and 40 wt % to find the correlation between the carbon content and conductivity. The graphite concentration, polymer matrix, and printing conditions all had an impact on the final conductivity. Due to the SLS printing technique, all the 3D printed electrodes were highly porous. By using polyurethane as the supporting matrix it was possible to produce flexible electrodes in which the conductivity is sensitive to pressure and mechanical stress. Physical properties such as graphite distribution, attachment, and the overall porosity of the printed electrodes were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), helium ion microscopy (HIM), and X-ray tomography. The results show that the combination of chemical design of the printing material and the utilization of SLS 3D printing enables fabrication of highly customizable electrodes with desired chemical, physical, mechanical, and flow-through properties. peerReviewed

Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3d printing was utilized to manufacture a solid catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions from polypropylene as a base material and palladium nanoparticles on silica (SilicaCat Pd(0)R815-100 by SiliCycle) as the catalytically active additive. The 3d printed catalyst showed similar activity to that of the pristine powdery commercial catalyst, but with improved practical recoverability and reduced leaching of palladium into solution. Recycling of the printed catalyst led to increase of the induction period of the reactions, attributed to the pseudo-homogeneous catalysis. The reaction is initiated by oxidative addition of aryl iodide to palladium nanoparticles, resulting in formation of soluble molecular species, which then act as the homogeneous catalyst. SLS 3d printing improves handling, overall practicality and recyclability of the catalyst without altering the chemical behaviour of the active component.

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have raised a lot of interest, especially as adsorbing materials, because of their unique and well‐defined pore structures. One of the main challenges in the utilization of MOFs is their crystalline and powdery nature, which makes their use inconvenient in practice. Three‐dimensional printing has been suggested as a potential solution to overcome this problem. We used selective laser sintering (SLS) to print highly porous flow‐through filters containing the MOF copper(II) benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate (HKUST‐1). These filters were printed simply by mixing HKUST‐1 with an easily printable nylon‐12 polymer matrix. By using the SLS, powdery particles were fused together in such a way that the structure of the printed solid material resembles the structure of a powder bed. The MOF additive is firmly attached only on the surface of partially fused polymer particles and therefore remains accessible to fluids passing through the filter. Powder X‐ray analysis of the printed object confirmed that printing did not have any negative impact on the structure of the MOF. CO2‐adsorption studies also showed that the activity of the MOF was not affected by the printing process. SLS offers a straightforward and easy way to fabricate tailor‐made MOF‐containing filters for practical applications. peerReviewed

In the current paper, a series of nonlinear optical (NLO) active devices was prepared by utilizing stereolithographic three-dimensional printing technique. Microcrystalline NLO active component, urea, or potassium dihydrogen phosphate was dispersed in a simple photopolymerizable polyacrylate-based resin and used as the printing material to fabricate highly efficient transparent NLO lenses. The nonlinear activity of the printed lenses was confirmed by second-harmonic generation measurements using a femtosecond laser-pumped optical parametric amplifier operating at a wavelength of 1195 nm. The three-dimensional printing provides a simple method to utilize a range of NLO active compounds without tedious crystal growing and processing steps. Furthermore, introducing NLO additives in the printing material provides an easy and cost-efficient way to manufacture lenses with NLO functionality. peerReviewed

Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing is used to fabricate highly macroporous ion scavenger filters for recovery of Pd and Pt from electronic waste. The scavengers are printed by using a mixture of polypropylene with 10 wt% of type‐1 anion exchange resin. Porosities and the flow‐through properties of the filters are controlled by adjusting the SLS printing parameters. The cylinder‐shaped filters are used in selective recovery of Pd and Pt from acidic leachate of electronic waste simply by passing the solution through the object. Under such conditions, the scavenger filters are able to capture Pd and Pt as anionic complexes with high efficiency from a solution containing mixture of different metal ions. By using the Pd/Pt scavenger together with previously reported, highly selective nylon‐based Au scavenger, precious metals, i.e., Au, Pd, and Pt could all be recovered from the electronic waste leachate in a single flow‐through process. One of the main advantages of the printed scavengers is that all recovered metals can be easily extracted from the filters as separate fractions by using aqueous solutions of thiourea or diluted nitric acid. After removal of the captured metals, the scavengers are reusable without significant loss of their ion‐capturing performance. peerReviewed