Enabling 3D printing of carbons by polyethylene precursors

Development of low-cost and accessible techniques for creating intricate carbon structures is an important research area for advancing various applications. In this work, fused filament fabrication (FFF) of polyethylene (PE) is used to generate 3D-printed structures which are converted to carbon through sulfonation-induced crosslinking and subsequent pyrolysis. Carbons from PE precursors display more continuous morphologies than their polypropylene (PP) counterparts while achieving enhanced reaction kinetics at lower temperatures. This phenomenon enables robust mechanical properties under optimal carbonization conditions. This work provides an essential expansion of precursor selection and understanding of carbonization effects for 3D-printed carbon materials.

Graphical abstract