Additive manufacturing and related technologies – The source of chemically active materials in separation science

Abstract

Techniques of additive manufacturing commonly referred to as 3D-printing (3DP), obviously have taken a permanent place in the analytical chemistry laboratory toolbox. In the recent five years, one could observe the rapid spread of 3DP in several areas, especially in the instant design, prototyping, development, and final fabrication of custom analytical systems, which was not possible with the help of previously available laboratory methods. The two most achievable technologies: fused deposition modeling and stereolithography, rely on polymer materials that can be shaped according to the current, custom laboratory needs. Herein, we focus on so-called fourth-level applications in separation science, namely devices recognizable by the surface chemistry of printed objects and utilized because of this chemical activity. Besides obvious benefits, including simplicity and affordability of usage and the possibility to achieve complex geometries and structures, we consider the design of novel materials as the most potent direction of further expansion of 3D printing. This review article is intended to point out recent achievements in the development of functional materials that can be processed by 3DP and applied in separation science. We want to pronounce approaches to design successful new materials, especially composites and chemically modified surfaces. Moreover, several potentially useful approaches derived from the material chemistry field and not yet directly applied in analytical chemistry will be listed as a perspective for further evolution and advancements in separation science.

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