Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE A solvent-free dual-monomer strategy enables the direct 3D printing of nickel-containing TPMS catalyst supports with uniform metal distribution and preserved open-channel architecture. The resulting structures exhibit excellent printability, thermal and water stability, and enhanced flexibility, offering a promising platform for next-generation continuous-flow catalytic applications.

ABSTRACT
This study presents the fabrication of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) supports containing nickel as the active phase via Masked Stereolithography (MSLA). The incorporation of the catalytic precursor into the UV-curable matrix was achieved by introducing a dual-monomer system consisting of 2-(Diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) and 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) that actively participate in the photopolymerization process while simultaneously ensuring a homogeneous nickel distribution. The developed formulation (Recipe B) successfully incorporated a 10 wt.% loading of nickel nitrate and exhibited a viscosity comparable to commercial resins. Schwarz Primitive (P) structures with a 4 mm cell size and 0.4 solidity were successfully printed. Micro-CT and SEM–EDX analyzes confirmed a uniform distribution of the metal phase throughout the 3D-printed objects, revealing a predominant particle size of 40 μm. Furthermore, cross-sectional imaging highlighted that UV light scattering induced by the nickel resulted in a slight thickening of the channel walls. TGA and water stability tests indicated thermal stability up to 100°C and a negligible mass loss below 4% in aqueous environments. Additionally, uniaxial compression tests demonstrated enhanced flexibility for the Recipe B samples compared to the commercial Flex 80 resin. By combining an interconnected cellular design with a uniform incorporation of the active phase, these 3D-printed structures show significant potential for catalytic applications where open fluid pathways are essential.