Laser Materials Processing for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

This chapter will review the use of laser-based material processing techniques, such as pulsed laser deposition (PLD), laser-induced-forward transfer (LIFT), and materials processing via 3D laser structuring (LS) and laser annealing (LA) techniques for energy storage applications. PLD is a powerful tool for fabricating high-quality layers of materials for cathodes, anodes and solid electrolytes for thin-film microbatteries. LIFT is a versatile technique for printing complex materials with highly porous structures for the fabrication of micropower sources, such as ultracapacitors and thick-film batteries. LS is a recently developed technique for modifying the active material by forming advanced 3D electrode architectures and increasing the overall active surface area. LA is a rapid technology for adjusting the crystalline battery phase and for controlling the grain size on micro and nano scale. This chapter will review recent work using these laser-processing techniques for the fabrication of micropower sources and lessons learned from the characterization of their electrochemical properties.