Nanomaterials Function in Additive Manufacturing

Nanomaterials are substances that have at least one dimension that falls within the three-dimensional nanoscale range or fundamental structural components made of substances that fall inside this range. Micro-nano 3D printing technology can realize the processing of 3D micro-nano structures with nanometer precision and has broad application prospects in many fields. Metals and polymers can be easily connected through bonding reactions to obtain metal-metal or covalent bonds in 3D printing. These potent chemical bonds make 3D-printed structures stable, and 3D printing of metals and plastics is developing rapidly. The review focuses on the latest developments in unique composite nanomaterials for different field applications, comprising nanomaterials and 3D printing technology. A summary of the mechanisms, functional characteristics, benefits, drawbacks, and applications of various nanomaterials used in scientific 3D printing includes metal-based nanomaterials, metal-organic frameworks, upconversion nanoparticles, and lipid-based nanoparticles. Finally, this study presents an overview and highlights the issues that need to be resolved for nanomaterials to continue to be developed for the advantages of 3D printing.