3dbatt1.jpg

Everything is 3D printable these days. From guns to engines to organs, so why not batteries this time? New inks and tools are making 3D-printed lithium-ion cells a very real possibility.

Technology Review has taken a look at the work of Harvard materials scientist Jennifer Lewis and reports that 3D printed batteries will be heading our way soon enough. Her technique uses a series of "functional inks that can solidify into batteries and simple components, including electrodes, wires, and antennas."

3dbatt2.gif

At time of printing, the material dries quickly to form components, and creates a simple battery from scratch which can take just minutes. According to Technology Review:
Her printed lithium-ion batteries are as tiny as one millimeter square but perform as well as commercial batteries, because Lewis can render microscale architectures, and position structures with 100-nanometer accuracy, to mirror the structures of much bigger batteries.
[Technology Review Images by Technology Review]