Vat photopolymerization 3D printing applications in metamaterials

Metamaterials with artificial structures have special physical properties that conventional materials do not possess. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been widely used to fabricate metamaterials, such as electromagnetic metamaterials, mechanical metamaterials, and acoustic metamaterials. Among all the printing technologies, vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology has the advantages of fast molding, high resolution, and the ability to shape complex structures, and it is developing rapidly in metamaterial applications. In this paper, we briefly discuss vat photopolymerization 3D printing techniques applicable to metamaterial manufacturing, including stereolithography (SLA), digital light process (DLP), and two-photon polymerization (TPP), from the basic working principles of printers to the characteristics of printing technologies. In addition, the research status of mechanical metamaterials, electromagnetic metamaterials, acoustic metamaterials, thermal metamaterials, and information metamaterials in barrel photopolymerization 3D printing is discussed respectively. Finally, the current applications of barrel photopolymerization 3D printing technology for metamaterials are summarized.