Customizable Supercapacitors via 3D Printed Gel Electrolyte

Abstract

New manufacturing strategies toward customizable energy storage devices (ESDs) are urgently required to allow structural designability for space and weight-sensitive electronics. Besides the macroscopic geometry customization, the ability to fine-tune the ESD internal architectures are key to device optimization, allowing short and uniform electrons/ions diffusion pathways and increased contact areas while overcoming the issues of long transport distance and high interfacial resistance in conventional devices with planar thick electrodes. ESDs with 2D or 3D electrodes filled with liquid or gel-like electrolyte have been reported, yet they face significant challenges in design flexibility for 3D ESD architectures. Herein, a novel method of assembling ESDs with the ability to customizing both external and internal architectures via digital light processing (DLP) technique and a facile sequential dip-coating process is demonstrated. Using supercapacitors as prototype device, the 3D printing of ESDs with areal capacity of 282.7 mF cm −2 which is higher than a reference device with same mass loading employing planar stacked configuration (205.5 mF cm −2 ) is demonstrated. The printed devices with highly customizable external geometry conveniently allow the ESDs to serve as structural components for various electronics such as watchband and biomimetic electronics which are difficult to be manufactured with previously reported strategies.

Flexible electrochemical energy storage devices and related applications: recent progress and challenges

“…Consequently, the assembled device maintains stable mechanical and electrochemical properties even after undergoing over 100 consecutive bending cycles. Zhou et al 85 proposed an innovative fabrication method for flexible supercapacitors wherein a gel electrolyte template was initially prepared via 3D printing followed by assembly of electrodes, collectors, and encapsulation materials through the dip-coating technique, thus enabling realization of flexible supercapacitors possessing both an internal three-dimensional structure and overall 3D geometry that can be easily integrated into diverse electronic products ( Fig. 7h ).…”

Interface Engineering for 3D Printed Energy Storage Materials and Devices

“…Liu et al recently reported the digital light processing of supercapacitor devices, where both external and internal architectures were customizable via 3D printed gel electrolytes. [ 186 ] Compared with the planar stacked configuration, the as‐printed device in internal 3D interdigitated configuration offered an increased electrode–electrolyte contact area (by ≈113%), shortened charge transfer pathways, and lowered interface resistances. A high areal device capacity of 282.7 mF cm −2 was achieved consequently, while the conventional supercapacitors in planar stacked configuration exhibited a lower capacity of 205.5 mF cm −2 .…”

Broadening the Voltage Window of 3D-Printed MXene Micro-Supercapacitors with a Hybridized Electrolyte

“…Microelectronic power sources, therefore, face the multifaceted challenge of integrating safety, cost-effectiveness, small form factors, mechanical flexibility, and exceptional performance. In this context, MXene-based micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) have emerged as a formidable solution, leveraging the intrinsic properties of MXene materials, such as their remarkable electrical conductivity and atomically thin 2D structure [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. These properties are pivotal in advancing the charge storage capabilities of MSCs, enabling them to meet the stringent energy demands of 5G-powered devices.…”