Journal
Discover Materials
Discover Materials is an open access journal publishing research across all fields relevant to materials, and areas where materials are activators for innovation and disruption.
Vat photopolymerization-based 3D printing has established itself as a powerful tool for fabricating complex, high-resolution structures, but the broader adoption of this technology across demanding fields—such as aerospace, healthcare, and electronics—requires the development of resins that go beyond structural fidelity. Recent efforts have focused on integrating functional fillers into photocurable matrices to create composite materials with tailored mechanical, electrical, thermal, or biological properties.
This Collection seeks to highlight current research on composite resin systems specifically designed for vat photopolymerization processes (e.g., SLA, DLP, CLIP). Contributions may address innovative filler integration strategies, surface modification for improved matrix compatibility, formulation-property relationships, and application-specific performance of printed parts. Studies on rheological behavior, curing kinetics, recyclability, or long-term functionality of these composites are also welcome. Emphasis will be placed on materials that enable new functionalities, enhance processability, or demonstrate potential for industrial scalability.
By showcasing recent advances in composite resin chemistry and performance engineering, this collection aims to support the next generation of functional materials for additive manufacturing and expand the practical boundaries of photopolymer-based printing technologies.
Keywords:
• Vat photopolymerization
• 3D printing resins
• Functional fillers
• Nanocomposites
• Mechanical reinforcement
• Conductive resins
• Surface modification
• Rheology of photopolymers
• Structure–property relationships
• Multifunctional 3D-printed materials
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 9 and SDG 12.
Submit your manuscript to this collection through the participating journal.
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Mirko Maturi
Mirko Maturi, PhD, is a materials scientist specializing in polymer chemistry, and photopolymerization-based 3D printing. His doctoral research focused on the development of advanced hybrid nanomaterials for applications in theranostics, organic electronics, and additive manufacturing.
Dr. Maturi conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Bologna, he later joined the University of Cádiz as a researcher, where he focuses on the development of sustainable photopolymer resins and functional nanocomposites for photopolymerization-based 3D printing.
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Lorenzo Migliorini
Lorenzo Migliorini, Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Physics Department of the University of Milan and a member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (CIMaINa). His research focuses on smart gels and nanocomposites for soft robotics, soft sensing, and surgical simulation, with a strong emphasis on eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. He develops functional systems for 3D-printed actuators, tactile sensors, and haptic phantoms. He is co-inventor of two patents on soft sensing and sustainable energy devices.
