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Abstract The sol-gel method has shown immense potential in materials science and nanotechnology. One of the cornerstone applications of the sol-gel technique includes the fabrication of inorganic glasses and glass-ceramics at relatively low temperatures as an alternative to conventional high-temperature melt-quench techniques. In recent times, glass fabrication with the sol-gel method has extended to additive manufacturing (AM), also referred to as 3D printing. Current sol-gel, glass AM uses solution-based gel compositions to produce three-dimensional glasses through layer-by-layer deposition and/or using photocurable polymer resins. Owing to its significant advantages of being able to fabricate glass components with arbitrary and complex geometry, AM presents a tantalizing opportunity to fabricate functionalized glass materials, increasing the technique’s popularity over the past decade. In this review and perspective, recent progress in combining sol-gel synthesis and additive manufacturing technologies used for obtaining inorganic glasses are discussed, specifically highlighting the research carried out in North America, and a prospectus of the field and emerging areas of interest and need is presented. Graphical Abstract 

An inexpensive and simple three-dimensional (3D) printed spectrophotometer that interfaces with smartphone cameras for visualizing and measuring visible wavelength absorbance and analyte quantitation is reported. A conventional spectroscope inspired the spectrophotometer design to maximize visual engagement for educational purposes and functions as a single-beam visible spectrophotometer capable of precise calibration, standard curve generation, and quantitative analysis of real-life samples. Spectrophotometer calibration results using a four-point, red-green-blue coordinate-to-wavelength conversion demonstrate that the 3D-printed device exhibits a linear 5.0 nm/mm dispersion over the 400–700 nm range. Quantitative analysis validation using a smartphone camera and Open Source software (ImageJ) analysis for tartrazine determination demonstrate the molar absorptivity for the external standard tartrazine was significantly lower compared to the literature and commercial instrumentation (0.0062 μM^–1cm^–1versus 0.0216 μM^–1cm^–1for the commercial instrument). Still, the accuracy of the device was within the linear range is remarkable, as tartrazine determination in a real-life sample (Mello Yello soft drink) was found to be not statistically different compared to the result obtained on a commercial spectrophotometer (10.6 μM versus 10.5 μM, n = 5, p > 0.05). The device design and computer-aided drafting files are available publicly for Open Access replication and modification, with considerable promise for expanded capabilities and applications beyond visible spectroscopy and educational purposes. 

Abstract In alignment with the Materials Genome Initiative and as the product of a workshop sponsored by the US National Science Foundation, we define a vision for materials laboratories of the future in alloys, amorphous materials, and composite materials; chart a roadmap for realizing this vision; identify technical bottlenecks and barriers to access; and propose pathways to equitable and democratic access to integrated toolsets in a manner that addresses urgent societal needs, accelerates technological innovation, and enhances manufacturing competitiveness. Spanning three important materials classes, this article summarizes the areas of alignment and unifying themes, distinctive needs of different materials research communities, key science drivers that cannot be accomplished within the capabilities of current materials laboratories, and open questions that need further community input. Here, we provide a broader context for the workshop, synopsize the salient findings, outline a shared vision for democratizing access and accelerating materials discovery, highlight some case studies across the three different materials classes, and identify significant issues that need further discussion. Graphical abstract