An improved lithium metal battery using 3D printing

Oct. 28 () –

Chinese researchers have made a new type of lithium metal battery using 3D printing technology, significantly improving its lifespan and energy density.

The lithium metal battery is expected to be the next generation high energy battery for its high energy density potential. But bottlenecks such as lithium dendrite growth and low throughput efficiencywhich result in poor cyclability and low energy density, have limited their applications.

Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, use 3D printing technology to fabricate titanium carbide-based structures for lithium metal to be deposited as the cathode, achieving an area capacity outstanding of 30 milliamp hours per square centimeter and a life cycle of more than 4,800 hourss without producing lithium dendrite, reports Xinhua.

The 3D printed anode was made from porous networks of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) with a mass charge reaching 171 mg per square centimeter, effectively improving the electrochemical performance of the battery.

This technical path offers a viable strategy to develop batteries with a long lifespan and high energy density, according to the study, published in the journal Energy Storage Materials.