3D Printing of Functional Magnetic Materials: From Design to Applications

TLDR

Functional magnetic materials, prized for their fast, long‑range, and precise responses, have attracted intense research interest, yet the complex magnetic designs required for diverse applications make fabrication challenging, prompting the adoption of 3D printing as a versatile manufacturing solution. This review systematically examines 3D printing strategies for functional magnetic materials, aiming to elucidate their application potential across magnetic anisotropy, robotics, electronics, and magneto‑thermal devices. The authors analyze how 3D printing enables control over magnetic anisotropy, robot actuation, electronic component integration, and heat‑to‑magnetic energy conversion through tailored material architectures. The review highlights remaining challenges in material performance, process scalability, and device integration, and outlines future research directions for advancing 3D‑printed functional magnetic devices.

Abstract

Abstract The research of functional magnetic materials has become a hot topic in the past few years due to their fast, long‐range, and precise response in diverse environments. Functional magnetic devices using different magnetic materials and structure designs have been developed and demonstrated good advantages to enable various applications. However, the required magnetic materials and structure designs for diverse functions also increase the fabrication difficulties while developing such devices. 3D printing technology presents a powerful and promising manufacturing approach to rapidly fabricate functional magnetic devices of complex geometries in multiple materials and scales. Here, various 3D printing strategies and the underlying mechanisms of functional magnetic materials for several primary applications are systematically reviewed, including, magnetic anisotropy for property enhancement, magnetic robots, magnetic components in electronics, and magneto‐thermal devices. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in engineering 3D printed functional magnetic devices are discussed.