3D Printing-Assisted Self-Assembly to Bio-Inspired Bouligand Nanostructures

Architected materials with nano/microscale orders can provide superior mechanical properties; however, reproducing such levels of ordering in complex structures has remained challenging. Inspired by Bouligand structures in nature, here, 3D printing of complex geometries with guided long-order radially twisted chiral hierarchy, using cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-based inks is presented. Detailed rheological measurements, in situ flow analysis, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and director field analysis are employed to evaluate the chiral assembly over the printing process. It is demonstrated that shear flow forces inside the 3D printer's nozzle orient individual CNC particles forming a pseudo-nematic phase that relaxes to uniformly aligned concentric chiral nematic structures after the flow cessation. Acrylamide, a photo-curable monomer, is incorporated to arrest the concentric chiral arrangements within the printed filaments. The time series POM snapshots show that adding the photo-curable monomer at the optimized concentrations does not interfere with chiral self-assemblies and instead increases the chiral relaxation rate. Due to the liquid-like nature of the as-printed inks, optimized Carbopol microgels are used to support printed filaments before photo-polymerization. By paving the path towards developing bio-inspired materials with nanoscale hierarchies in larger-scale printed constructs, this biomimetic approach expands 3D printing materials beyond what has been realized so far.

Automated summary

Inspired by natural Bouligand structures, researchers have successfully used cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-based inks for 3D printing to create structures with guided long-range radial twisted chirality. The nanostructures during the printing process were evaluated using rheological measurements, in situ flow analysis, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and director field analysis. By incorporating a photo-curable monomer, the chirality of the printed filaments was locked, and optimized Carbopol microgels were used to support the as-printed inks before photo-polymerization. This biomimetic approach opens up new possibilities for developing bio-inspired materials with nanoscale hierarchies in larger-scale 3D printed constructs.