Such technological superiority endows the batteries manufactured by 3D printing with outstanding features of tunable dimensions, high shape conformability, as well as enhanced areal energy densities and power densities.
The 3D-printed batteries’ energy density can be increased by depositing an active material in the z -direction while the cell’s power density remains constant. Furthermore, interdigitated structures help to achieve that goal.
Instead of a layer of anode, the electrolyte, then a layer of cathode, a 3D battery has 3D-shaped anode and cathode that are more like puzzle pieces. Such a design increases the surface area of the cathode and anode, and can either hold more lithium ions, and so offer more power, or be many times smaller than a traditional battery.
Several non-academic teams have implemented such 3D structures in their battery prototypes and products 135. Addionics, a UK-USA-Israel-based company that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, has developed its technology in this 3D architectural design.
The simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the interdigitated battery design enabled by 3D printing has the potential to overcome the trade-off between energy and power densities 134. Several non-academic teams have implemented such 3D structures in their battery prototypes and products 135.
Furthermore, by adjusting the amount or type of specific components, the slurry formulation can be adapted from industrial battery cell production 133. The 3D-printed batteries’ energy density can be increased by depositing an active material in the z -direction while the cell’s power density remains constant.