Advanced Materials
For 3D Printing.... and more
Beyond the hardware, I explore how 3D printing can be used to create “smart” materials and more sustainable manufacturing cycles:
3D Printed Lycurgus Cup:
Inspired by ancient Roman glass, we developed a 3D-printable nanocomposite (Kool et al., 2020) embedded with silver and gold nanoparticles. This material recreates the “Lycurgus effect”, appearing green in reflected light and red in transmitted light. This curiosity-driven research demonstrates how plasmonic effects can create stable, non-degradable colors for material science.
Microalgae-Based 3D Printing Resin:
To reduce the environmental impact of additive manufacturing, we developed a photocurable SLA resin derived from microalgae oil.(Fonzo et al., 2025) Unlike petroleum or soy-based resins, microalgae do not compete with food crops for land or freshwater. This bio-based resin offers a sustainable path forward for green chemistry in 3D printing.
