Ceramic composites toughened by vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology

•Vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology was used to achieve toughening of ceramic composite material.•Frictional sliding of 3D printed ceramic layer structure leads to energy dissipation and strain redistribution, which realizes the macroscopic toughening of ceramic materials.•Bridge and extension of in-situ amorphous ceramic whiskers within ceramic cracks realize the micrometre toughening of ceramics.•Crack tip was toughened by nano-ZrO2.