The influence of metal oxide additives on the properties of Li4SiO4 ceramics formed by 3D printing and reaction sintering

Vat photopolymerization 3D printing technique enables the precise fabrication of ceramic components with highly complex shapes and improved performance. It has been used for the preparation of Li 4 SiO 4 ceramic units, which are a promising candidate for stable tritium breeding in fusion reactions. In order to further enhance the production properties, herein metal oxide additions are proposed to combine with the previously reported generative shaping and material-forming (GSM) strategy. A remarkable theoretical density of 92.8 % and crushing load of 38.54 N reveal the effectiveness of this approach in producing robust ceramic units potentially suitable for tritium production. The study is proved to be cost-effective, highly efficient in production and most importantly to be able to produce high-performance Li₄SiO₄-based tritium breeding ceramics. Our findings provide a new insight into lithium-based tritium breeders preparation and applications, supporting their potential in fusion energy.