The Swiss company Blackstone Resources has announced plans to manufacture lithium-ion batteries on a large scale using a new 3D printing process. The technology is an excellent way to mass-produce high-quality batteries that offer higher energy density and more charging cycles. Besides the new design, the 3D-printed battery cells can be made with a variety of materials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene.

The batteries are constructed with three layered structures. The anode, electrolyte and cathode are stacked square-shaped. Each layer is printed using a 0.84mm nozzle, and the electrolyte is added later with the help of a solvent. The process allows the customer to customise the size and shape of the batteries. In addition to the customisation of battery sizes, the technology also enables the manufacturer to cut down on waste materials by up to 50%.

The thickness of a 300-micron electrode results in increased areal capacity and porosity. A battery made from this material has a capacity of 4.4mAh cm-2. The thickness of a 100-micron electrode is equivalent to 1.7mAh cm-2. This increases the efficiency of lithium batteries by 158 per cent. The research was led by Dr Shanmugam Kumar, Professor at Glasgow University's James Watt School of Engineering, together with colleagues from the Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. Other universities involved in the project include Arizona State University and Texas A&M University.

The researchers at Texas State University and Duke University have developed a method that enables lithium-ion batteries to be 3D-printed. The battery uses a conductive material and is used to power electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops. Electric vehicles also use lithium-ion batteries. This type of battery is highly popular among consumers and manufacturers. However, the cost and labor intensive process of mass-producing Li-ion batteries has limited their applications.

The current lithium-ion battery uses electrodes that are manufactured using a 3D printer. The electrodes have a high energy storage capacity, but they are still too difficult to produce in large quantities. The best solution is to combine the electrodes and other components into a single cell. These processes have the advantage of reducing the size and weight of the battery. This is important for manufacturing portable electronics. It is important to ensure the safety of all personnel.

The 3D-printed lithium-ion battery has a three-layered structure. The first layer is an anode, the second layer is the electrolyte, and the third layer is the cathode. Each layer is square-shaped. The anode is deposited onto a copper current collector by a 0.4-mm nozzle. The electrolyte solution is then used to print the cathode.