3D Printed Template-Directed Assembly of Multiscale Graphene Structures

The assembly of different levels of structure from the nano- to the macroscale has produced materials with outstanding performance. Here, using graphene as a model building block, the fabrication of multiscale structures is reported, with tailorable features spanning seven orders of magnitude in size by a 3D printed template-directed assembly method which combines the ability to customize structures from the meso- to macroscale using digital light processing and from the nano- to microscale using self-assembly. It is shown that by a careful design of the structures, a number of extraordinary properties can be produced including ultralow density (≥0.08 mg cm^–3), and ultrahigh stiffness, and compressibility (full recovery from 95% strain). The approach not only provides diversified structure control over wide length scales for nanomaterial assembly but also shows the possibility of changing the properties of the structure for different applications.