Manufacturing Strategies for Solid Electrolyte in Batteries

Abstract

Throughout the development of battery technologies in recent years, the solid-state electrolyte (SSE) has demonstrated outstanding advantages in tackling the safety shortcomings of traditional batteries while meeting high demands on electrochemical performances. The traditional manufacturing strategies can achieve the fabrication of batteries with simple forms (coin, cylindrical, and pouch), but encounter limitations in preparing complex-shaped or micro/nanoscaled batteries especially for inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs). The advancement in novel manufacturing techniques like 3D printing has enabled the assembly of different solid electrolytes (polymeric, inorganic, and composites) in a more complex geometric configuration. However, there is a huge gap between the capabilities of the current 3D printing techniques and the requirements for battery production. In this review, we compare the traditional manufacturing to several novel 3D printing techniques, highlighting the potential of 3D printing in the SSE manufacturing. The latest SSE manufacturing progress in the group of direct-writing (DW) based or lithography-based printing technologies are summarized separately from the perspectives of feedstock selection, build envelope, printing resolution, and application (nano-scaled, flexible, and large-scale battery grids). Throughout the discussion, some challenges associated with manufacturing SSEs via 3D printing such as air/moisture sensitivity of samples, printing resolution, scale-up capability, and longterm sintering for ISEs have been put forward. This review aims to bridge the gap between 3D printing techniques and battery requirements by analyzing the existing limitation in SSE manufacturing and point out future needs.

Challenge-driven printing strategies toward high-performance solid-state lithium batteries

“…However, there are notable challenges to producing high-ionic conductivity SSEs using current methods such as vacuum-based radio frequency (RF), atomic-layer deposition (ALD), chemical-vapor deposition (CVD), and pulsed-layer deposition (PLD). 28,80 These traditional approaches are either cost-prohibitive, time-consuming, or less scalable. The long sintering time at high temperatures during these processes will inevitably cause severe Li and Na loss in ISEs, leading to low ionic conductivities ($10 À8 to 10 À4 S cm À1 ) and poor electrochemical performance.…”

Advances in 3D Printing for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems

“…For instance, liquid electrolytes can be flammable, volatile, and prone to form unstable interfaces and electrolyte passivation layers [54]. To mitigate such challenges, solid-state electrolytes emerge as viable candidates which provide more chemical stability, are inherently safer, and can contribute towards maximizing the energy density [55]. Nevertheless, as with liquid electrolytes, there are a few challenges associated with solid-state electrolytes which hinder their exploitation to their maximum potential.…”

3D Printable Composite Polymer Electrolytes: Influence of SiO2 Nanoparticles on 3D-Printability

“…Furthermore, Dupont and coworkers recently used an additive manufacturing technology to prepare a printable polyethylene oxide/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PEO/LiTFSI) filament which can be subsequently fed into an FDM 3D printer [ 26 ]. Thus, development of novel materials is needed to make current 3D-techniques capable to fulfill requirements for battery production [ 27 ].…”