3D-Printed Structure with Active Chemistry

A team from American University in Washington, D.C. has created a 3D-printed structure with active chemistry. Using an off-the-shelf 3D printer and materials that are available to almost any hobbyist, the researchers say they manufactured a structure that mitigates pollution in the air around it.

The cell-like structure is the size of a sponge and was created using standard 3D printing filament, but incorporates chemically active titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. The research plan was to determine whether the nanoparticles would remain active after the printing process, and if the final matrix would reduce pollution. They say the answer to both questions was yes.

The technique works because TiO2 reacts to sunlight to break up pollutants in the air. The potential applications could extend to in water or agricultural applications.

To test the matrix, the team submerged the structure in water and introduced an organic molecule, which the sponge destroyed. The TiO2 was also able to photocatalyse the degradation of a rhodamine 6G (tracer dye) in the solution. The nanoparticles represented less than 10% of the total mass.

The researchers now plan to learn whether other shapes could result in more optimal applications that utilize photocatalytic removal of pollutants.