Role and advancement of 3D printing in energy storage devices

Abstract

Since energy is such a vital component of everyday life it is now more apparent than ever that improvements in our current energy storage devices are a necessity as the current forms of energy storage are ill-equipped to deal with future demands. Because of these demands, researchers are beginning to focus on 3D printing and its potential to revolutionize energy storage. Now the primary focus for 3D printing is the fabrication of electrodes. This is due to the unique materials and designs that 3D has enabled. However, with the rise of wearable electronics, the role of 3D printing is slowly being expanded into the fabrication of electrolyte material. The spur towards electrolyte printing has also been led by the rise of Direct Ink Writing (DIW) printing technology which is regarded as the future of the 3D printing industry.