3D-printed fused silica glass microlattice as mechanical metamaterial

Glass metamaterials that integrate optical transparency, chemical stability, and mechanical robustness are essential for satisfying the specific requirements of diverse fields, such as electronic screens or structural glazing. Yet, in practice, the requirements are only met by limited materials, and research in this area is still in its infancy. Here, we successfully incorporate microlattice architectures into three-dimensional (3D)-printed glass and develop transparent glass mechanical metamaterials with lightweight and high strength. A series of transparent glass microlattice metamaterials featuring diverse structural configurations, including tunable relative density, controllable strut volume, and adjustable strut counts, have been fabricated and thoroughly investigated for their mechanical properties. This progress offers a basis for the systematic tailoring of mechanical properties in 3D-printed glass microlattices, thereby paving the way for high-strength transparent metamaterials that are significantly lighter than their solid counterparts while offering opportunities for multifunctional applications as well. [Display omitted] •Glass is printed into 3D microlattices with adjustable structural configurations•In situ mechanical characterizations reveal the structure-property relationships•Outstanding optical and mechanical performance can be found in glass microlattices Li et al. 3D printed transparent glass microlattices with diverse structural configurations, providing a new route for the design and optimization of mechanical mechanicals. The glass microlattices pave the way for high-strength transparent metamaterials that are significantly lighter than their solid counterparts, highlighting their potential for multifunctional applications.