3D-printing a structure with active chemistry

Researchers at American University have demonstrated the first use of commercial 3D printers to create a structure with active chemistry — in this case, a structure that acts to mitigate pollution.
The researchers added titanium dioxide nanoparticles to standard ABS filament material (used in 3D printers) and extruded a filament that they then used to print a small, sponge-like plastic object on a low-cost Flashforge Creator Pro 3D Printer. The researchers next plan to 3D-print a variety of different geometries to determine an optimal printed shape for applications that involve photocatalytic removal of environmental pollutants.