Methods of forming three-dimensional structures by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A method of forming a three-dimensional structure comprises forming a layer of a precursor material on a substrate using an additive manufacturing process, the precursor material comprising one or more of a metal oxide, a metal sub-oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal boride, a metal hydride, a metal silicide, a metal salt, and a pre-ceramic polymer; forming one or more additional layers of the precursor material on the layer of the precursor material; and exposing the layers of precursor material to an energy source to reduce the precursor material to form a three-dimensional structure comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or a composite.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.