On August 2nd, American engineers have developed a 3D printing method that may greatly increase the capacity and charge and discharge speed of lithium-ion batteries.
If the electrodes of a lithium-ion battery contain microscopic pores or channels, their capacity will be greatly improved. At present, the optimal porous electrodes made by additives have their internal geometry interdigitated. It can let lithium ions swim freely in the battery during charging and discharging, but this is not the most ideal design.
A research team led by Rahul Panat, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, has teamed up with the University of Missouri to develop a new method for 3D printed battery electrodes that can create controlled pores. Microscopic metal structures. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Additive Manufacturing.
Panat said: 'In lithium-ion batteries, electrodes with a porous structure can provide a greater storage capacity. This is because this structure allows a large amount of lithium ions to enter the electrode, which can achieve higher electrode utilization. And it brings higher storage capacity. In ordinary batteries, 30% to 50% of the electrodes are not used. We have overcome this problem by 3D printing technology, and the micro-electrode structure manufactured by 3D printing can make lithium Ions are more efficiently transported inside the electrode, which also improves the charging speed of the battery.'
The micro-metal structure used as a lithium-ion battery electrode can increase the specific capacity by a factor of four and double the area capacity compared to conventional solid-state batteries. According to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the electrode is passing through After 40 electrochemical processes, their complex 3D lattice structure was retained, which also confirmed their mechanical stability.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed their own 3D printing methods using the current capabilities of airjet printing 3D printing systems to create porous microscopic metal structures. Prior to this, 3D printed battery research Limited by the extrusion printing technology, that is, the printing technology that forms a continuous structure by extruding the material through the nozzle. Only the cross-structured battery can be manufactured by the extrusion printing technology.
With the new method developed by Panat Labs, researchers can quickly stack individual droplets into a three-dimensional structure to print out the battery electrodes. This technology prints structures with complex geometric properties. Traditional extrusion printing methods cannot be made.
Panat said: 'Because these droplets are separated from each other, we can create this new complex geometry. If they are continuous materials like the traditional extrusion printing technology, we can't make it. This complex electrode structure. This is a new field of research. Before that, I didn't think anyone could create these complex structures with 3D printing technology.' Researchers estimate that the technology derived from this new 3D printing method is about Industrial applications can be realized in 2 to 3 years.