Hierarchical printed product and composition and method for making the same

A method, comprising:

• mixing a composition comprising bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzol)-phenylphosphineoxide, 1-phenylazo-2-naphthol, and dimethylformamide with polyethylene glycol diacrylate to form a first mixture;
• adding a solution comprising a metal precursor component comprising a combination of silver nitrate and HAuCl4 and water to the first mixture to form a second mixture;
• printing, with the second mixture, a printed intermediate structure comprising a polymer gel by using a 3-D printer or other stereolithographic process to deposit layers of the second mixture and exposing the layers of the second mixture to an energy source to polymerize the polyethylene glycol diacrylate to thereby form the polymer gel;
• rinsing the printed intermediate structure with a rinsing solution comprising a porogenic solvent and a stabilizing component;
• heating the printed intermediate structure at a temperature and for a time sufficient to promote chemical changes in the metal precursor component and/or to decompose the polymer gel;
• and
• removing decomposed polymer gel from the printed intermediate structure to provide a metal-based printed product.