Smart Ink Can 3D Print Devices that Change Shape and Color

摘要

It wasn't long ago that 3D printing was a novel technology. But now, its rapidly evolving into its next generation: 4D printing, in which structures printed in 3D can transform themselves after fabrication. To advance this new phase, researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a smart ink that turns 3D-printed structures into objects that can change shape and color. This invention has the potential to add even more functionality to 3D-printed objects for industries ranging from biomedicine to energy and beyond, researchers said.