Guide
Recently, researchers at Duke University and Texas State University have developed a new method for almost 3D printing of any form of lithium-ion battery.
Background Lithium-ion battery, is a rechargeable battery. It relies mainly on lithium ions moving between the positive and negative electrodes to work. During charge and discharge, Li + is inserted and removed between two electrodes: when charging, the lithium + is removed from the positive electrode, the cathode is embedded in the anode, and the cathode is in the rich State;
The opposite is true when discharging.
Electric cars and most of the electronic devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
To date, manufacturers have to design their devices according to the lithium-ion batteries available on the market.
Innovation However, technological innovation has changed this situation.
Recently, researchers at Duke University and Texas State University have developed a new method for almost 3D printing of any form of lithium-ion battery.
Their findings are published in the international renowned journal ACS Applied Energy Materials, an American chemical council.
Technology Currently, most lithium-ion batteries in the market are cylindrical or cube-shaped.
Therefore, when a manufacturer designs a product, such as a mobile phone, it is necessary to prepare a specific size and shape for the battery, which wastes space and limits the design. In theory, 3D printing technology can produce almost any shape, including the battery and electronic component structure. However, 3D printing uses polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), which is not an ionic conductor, which has become a major barrier to printing batteries.
Christopher Reyes, Benjamin Wiley and colleagues have developed a process to print lithium-ion batteries through a low-cost 3D printer. The researchers increased the ionic conductivity of polylactic acid by adding electrolyte solutions.
In addition, graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes were added to the anode (anode) and positive (cathode).
Value To demonstrate the battery's performance, the team 3D printed the LED bracelet with the integrated lithium-ion battery.
The hand ring battery can supply a green led for up to 60 seconds.
Future The first generation of 3D printed batteries is two orders of magnitude lower than a commercially available battery, according to researchers. This capacity is so low that this 3D printed battery cannot be applied in practice.
However, the researchers say they already have several ideas for boosting capacity, such as replacing polylactic acid-based materials with 3D-printed dough. A new way to develop in the United States: almost any shape lithium-ion battery can be printed!
