Nanoscale 3D-printed glass reflects nearly all visible light, challenging photonic assumptions about what low-index materials can do

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-glass-nanostructures-visible-photonics-assumptions.html

"silica nanoparticles grainy, low-resolution results, but Glass-Nano, photocurable resin blend of silicon-containing molecules with other light-sensitive organic compounds, cures smoothly/ contracts uniformly during heating, transforming into clear, robust glass... 2-photon 650°C sintering lithography shrinks polymer structures, preserving form while achieving nanoscale features as small as 260 nm... fabricated >20 tightly stacked photonic crystal layers with fine-tuned design... wearable optics, integrated displays, sensors"