Recent advancements and applications in 3D printing of functional optics

Various kinds of optical devices have been designed for unique functionality based on a deeper understanding of optical principles. Recently, the research of functional optics has become a hot topic due to their wide usage in diverse fields. However, the structural complexity and multi-material distribution of advanced optical devices far exceed the fabrication capability of traditional manufacturing techniques, which inevitably hinders the further development of functional optics for various promising applications. As a revolutionary advanced manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing (AM) has demonstrated its potential to produce multi-material, multi-scale and multi-functional optical devices for excellent performance in imaging, sensing, displaying, and light modulating. Here, recent achievements in additive manufacturing of functional optics including lens, optoelectronics, photonics, and metamaterials were reviewed. The investigation covers the design scenarios, material selection, 3D printing strategies, and property evaluation. Current challenges, prospective research topics, and future promising applications of 3D printing of next-generation functional optics are discussed at the end.