Materials and underlying principles in vat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing of electronic ceramics

Electronic ceramics play a pivotal role in electronic devices, such as filters, substrates, and packaging, while serving as integral components of field-responsive devices, such as sensors, transducers, and energy harvesters. However, conventional methods of fabricating electronic ceramics face limitations in size, shape, cost, and efficiency due to growing demand for increased miniaturization and precision. Therefore, considerable attention has been directed towards the development of alternative ceramic progressing methods. Specifically, vat photopolymerization (VPP) additive manufacturing technology features a high spatial resolution and capability of realizing three-dimensional architecture, thus enabling additional functionalities previously unattainable in electronic ceramic devices. Interdisciplinary endeavors are essential for establishing a link between electronic ceramics and VPP. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying principles of electronic ceramics and VPP is essential for their synergistic integration. In this review, electronic ceramics are categorized into dielectrics and semiconductors according to their electronic properties, emphasizing the role of compositional and nano-/microstructural engineering in optimizing their functions. Subsequently, we discuss recent advances in photocurable materials for VPP, considering key factors such including rheology, light propagation, and debinding/sintering processes from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. These insights provide guidelines for formulating photocurable suspensions for electronic ceramic fabrication by VPP. Lastly, we discuss the prospects and challenges of this rapidly evolving field, offering perspectives into future innovations in electronic ceramic additive manufacturing by VPP.