Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications

Vat photopolymerization (VPP) has emerged as a versatile technique for 3D printing piezoresistive strain sensors, providing high accuracy, resolution, and the ability to fabricate complex geometries tailored to specific applications. This review presents an overview of VPP methods, including stereol...

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Main Authors: Omar Waqas Saadi, Kamran A. Khan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2505994
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author Omar Waqas Saadi
Kamran A. Khan
author_facet Omar Waqas Saadi
Kamran A. Khan
author_sort Omar Waqas Saadi
collection DOAJ
description Vat photopolymerization (VPP) has emerged as a versatile technique for 3D printing piezoresistive strain sensors, providing high accuracy, resolution, and the ability to fabricate complex geometries tailored to specific applications. This review presents an overview of VPP methods, including stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and two-photon polymerisation (TPP), and examines their unique advantages and limitations in the context of strain sensor fabrication. With the integration of a variety of materials, VPP enables the creation of sensors with customisable sensitivity, durability, and environmental resilience. Such sensors offer real-time, precise strain detection, which is valuable across applications in structural health monitoring, wearable electronics, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces. This paper also highlights recent advancements in material development for VPP-fabricated sensors, addressing challenges such as material compatibility, light absorption, and mechanical robustness. Key insights into the design and performance of VPP-based sensors underscore the potential of this technology to meet evolving demands for multifunctional, adaptive sensors. Finally, the review discusses existing challenges and future directions, including enhancing multifunctionality, improving printing resolution, exploring new applications, and developing hybrid materials and additive manufacturing methods. This work positions VPP as a pivotal technology for advancing next-generation strain sensors across diverse fields.
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spelling doaj-art-5a66bc587c9d4c50956f64df10898d972025-08-20T01:57:15ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirtual and Physical Prototyping1745-27591745-27672025-12-0120110.1080/17452759.2025.2505994Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applicationsOmar Waqas Saadi0Kamran A. Khan1Department of Aerospace Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAEDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAEVat photopolymerization (VPP) has emerged as a versatile technique for 3D printing piezoresistive strain sensors, providing high accuracy, resolution, and the ability to fabricate complex geometries tailored to specific applications. This review presents an overview of VPP methods, including stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and two-photon polymerisation (TPP), and examines their unique advantages and limitations in the context of strain sensor fabrication. With the integration of a variety of materials, VPP enables the creation of sensors with customisable sensitivity, durability, and environmental resilience. Such sensors offer real-time, precise strain detection, which is valuable across applications in structural health monitoring, wearable electronics, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces. This paper also highlights recent advancements in material development for VPP-fabricated sensors, addressing challenges such as material compatibility, light absorption, and mechanical robustness. Key insights into the design and performance of VPP-based sensors underscore the potential of this technology to meet evolving demands for multifunctional, adaptive sensors. Finally, the review discusses existing challenges and future directions, including enhancing multifunctionality, improving printing resolution, exploring new applications, and developing hybrid materials and additive manufacturing methods. This work positions VPP as a pivotal technology for advancing next-generation strain sensors across diverse fields.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.25059943D printingvat-photopolymerizationstrain sensorspiezoresistivityflexible electronicsnanocomposites
spellingShingle Omar Waqas Saadi
Kamran A. Khan
Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
3D printing
vat-photopolymerization
strain sensors
piezoresistivity
flexible electronics
nanocomposites
title Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
title_full Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
title_fullStr Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
title_full_unstemmed Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
title_short Advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors: materials, mechanisms, and applications
title_sort advancements in vat photopolymerization for piezoresistive sensors materials mechanisms and applications
topic 3D printing
vat-photopolymerization
strain sensors
piezoresistivity
flexible electronics
nanocomposites
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2505994
work_keys_str_mv AT omarwaqassaadi advancementsinvatphotopolymerizationforpiezoresistivesensorsmaterialsmechanismsandapplications
AT kamranakhan advancementsinvatphotopolymerizationforpiezoresistivesensorsmaterialsmechanismsandapplications