On April 25, 2025, according to the Resource Library, a research team at the University of California, Berkeley recently developed a pierced 3D printing technology – the loading programming (CPD), which can directly manufacture ultra -light antennas with complex metal structures.
A load printing and programming deposit diagram. Load programming deposit B – F Additive Manufacturing Antenna Photos: B Gradient phase transmission bile with three layers of interpenetrating rings and dielectric materials; Antenna C Vivaldi; D 3D small folded electric antenna; E fractal antenna of the tree; F horn antenna F with diaphragm polarizer. Image source: nature communications
Thanks to innovative mechanisms for the deposit of guided loading materials, we can get rid of the limits of traditional lithography and manufacturing processes of subtractive materials. The results of this research were published inNature communicationsReview.
Technological innovation
The heart of this technology is to load the programming of models of the dielectric substrate during the printing of stereolithography (SLA).
The researchers have formed a model of “load mosaic” by giving positive, negative or neutral loads in different areas of the printing surface. In the subsequent electrolytic copper veneer process, metallic ions will only be deposited selectively in areas with opposite loads, thus reaching a precise molding of the three -dimensional conductive lines.
A Schematic diagram of the copper deposit regulated by the components.B scanningelectronicThe microscope images (SEM) show the transverse cut of the copper coating on the dielectric material.C atomThe images of force microscopy show dense and smooth copper deposited on the negative resin.D WhichThe image shows the minimum size of the characteristic of the CPD.E–H shows the structure of the activated complex 3D antenna and compatibility with several materials.Image source: nature communications
After the catalytic treatment of the Palladium ion and the electrolytic copper veneer, the conductivity of the resulting copper driver reaches 4.9 × 10⁷ s / m, which is close to the conductive properties of copper Recuit, fully meeting the needs of high frequency applications.
The research team has demonstrated the advantages of CPD technology through several cases: a circular polarization network antenna with an operating frequency of 19 GHz is designed with a three -layer ring unit, with a weight of only 5 grams, 94% lower than the design of PCB with the same function; A horn antenna with an integrated polarizer and a wave guide transition structure checks the technology capacity to manufacture complex internal channels.
A circular design of polarized horn antenna with complex internal characteristics. Image source: nature communications
In addition, this method is successfully applied to the manufacture of extensible antennas in folded miniaturized antennas, with fractal geometric antennas and stretch antennas in elastomers and liquid metal alloys.
Multi-material expansion
Compared to the traditional manufacturing technology of multi-material additives, the DPC has important advantages: no need for multiple print-in-print systems, substrate alignment or high-temperature sintering process, it is only possible to manually replace resin on SLA quality of commercial office printers.
A,,B Traditional unit cells of transmission of photolithography andDPCSuper light printedtransmissionSchematic comparison of unit cells in table.C The weight comparison of ultra-light transmission networks with transmission networks made with conceptions similar to the same frequency.OF exposureIt isComplex metal-dielectric structures of copper and acrylate polymers.Image source: nature communications
It has been verified to be adapted to a variety of material systems such as polymers, polyimids, ceramics and elastomers. The researchers have also developed a modular splicing strategy to cross the print size limitations and carry out the assembly without loss of high height antenna networks.
This technology provides innovative solutions for rapid prototyping and the production of small lots for application scenarios linked to space or sensitive to weight such as Star Cube, 6G basic stations and portable devices.
The research team will focus on the development of an automatic resin switching system, to expand the library of functional materials and to explore the integrated application of magnetic / piezoelectric functional coatings.
The schematic diagrams of all 3D printed antennas systems consist of horn antennas and table networks.Image source: nature communications
It should be noted that many research institutions around the world promote 3D printing antennas technology. The 5G / 6G printed antenna developed by the University of Sheffield has shown radiofrequency performance comparable to traditional products, while the cylindrical antenna printed in 3D from the American naval research laboratory has reached a more compact and light design.
Together, this progress indicates that 3D printing becomes a key technological path for the next generation of communication equipment manufacturing.
