3-D printing of a battery with any shape, using multi-coaxial, cable-type 3D printable filament

UNMET NEED
Printed batteries are an excellent alternative to conventional batteries for an increasing number of applications such as radio frequency sensing, interactive packaging, medical devices, sensors, and wearable electronics.

OUR SOLUTION
Multi-coaxial, cable-type 3D printable battery, in which the inner electrode (anode or cathode) incorporates the current collector, thus forming a core/shell double-layer structure.
This double-layer structure is enwrapped by a solid electrolyte and the outer electrode, thus forming a multi-coaxial cable battery.
The latter, in turn, is enclosed in a thin layer of the second current collector. The increased current collectors/electrodes and electrolyte/electrodes interfacial areas in this multi-coaxial, cable-type-battery design significantly facilitate ion transfer by reducing tortuosity in the migration pathway.
This is expected to result in high power capability of the battery. Any tailored-to-application shape networks may be fabricated on the base of such multi-coaxial cable-type batteries

APPLICATIONS
• Products, such as activity trackers, smart clothing, printed electronics and e‐skins are part of a large eco‐system of devices commonly referred to as ‘Internet of Things’. These smart devices will sense, communicate with each other, take action and provide information to the user.
• The battery requirements for these products should have small footprint flexibility and unique form factor. In addition to typical characteristics such as low cost and high energy density.

STATUS
• The first prototype of an extruder has been designed and manufactured at TAU machine shop.
• Novel 3D-printed all-solid-state electrolytes, based on polylactic acid-polyethylene oxide blends have been developed and characterized.
• The bulk conductivity of polymer electrolytes is 8×10−5 S/cm for silica- and 3×10−5 S/cm for alumina-containing PEs at 120°C.
• Solid electrolytes based on biodegradable polymers polylactide, polycaprolactone, polyglycolide, chitosan and environmentally friendly nanosize lithiated chalcopyrites and silicon materials with novel electrolyte as a binder are under development.