Recent advances in VAT photopolymerization additive manufacturing of battery electrodes: towards high-resolution 3D-printed batteries

Abstract

Additive manufacturing of battery components is a relatively new field mostly dominated by extrusion-based 3D printing technologies. Alternatively, vat photopolymerization is starting to be noticed by the battery research field since it can enable 3D printing of electrodes with fast processing and high resolution. The high resolution allows for free-form-factor, which is not achievable with conventional techniques such as slurry casting. Nevertheless, several challenges must be addressed before vat photopolymerization can be considered a viable method for battery research and manufacturing. In this review, we address several of these challenges and highlight strategies to overcome them, providing new insights. In addition, we present a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in vat photopolymerization–based 3D printing of battery components using different technologies. Its potential for the future development of new 3D microstructured energy storage devices, such as micro-batteries, lithium-, sodium-, and zinc-ion batteries, will be finally discussed.