In recent years, 3D printing technology has emerged as a groundbreaking approach for the fabrication of batteries, offering advantages in terms of design flexibility, customization, and rapid prototyping. Various 3D printing methods with their unique characteristics and potential applications have been explored for battery manufacturing. This literature review aims to introduce four of the most promising 3D printing methods for battery fabrication: direct ink writing (DIW), fused filament fabrication (FFF), inkjet printing (IJP), and stereolithography (SLA) (
Figure 2). First the principles, advantages, limitations, will be examined and then recent advancements associated with these techniques will be discussed revealing their contributions to the field of energy storage.
3.1. DIW
DIW is a 3D printing technique employed in battery fabrication, relying on the precise extrusion of inks or pastes through a nozzle to create an integrated three-dimensional structure. In DIW for battery manufacturing, the ink typically comprises active materials, conductive materials, binders, and solvents. The extrusion process is characterized by high controllability governed by parameters such as pressure, speed, and nozzle size, allowing for the precise positioning of materials [
125,
126,
127].
One of its features is the resolution it offers over the creation of complex structures and well-aligned lattice designs which are advantageous for achieving high porosity and facilitating ion transport in energy storage devices with the least material wastage. The resolution of 3D structures printed using DIW is determined by factors such as nozzle diameter, applied pressure, and ink characteristics, typically ranging from 1 to 250 micrometers [
125,
127,
128,
129]. Furthermore, compared to other 3D printing methods, DIW can be a more affordable choice, making it accessible to a broader range of applications. Moreover, this method is known for its ease of fabrication and typically requires minimal or no post-production treatment [
130]. Another key advantage of DIW is the flexibility in material selection, allowing for the use of a wide range of printing feedstocks including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites which empowers the users to select materials that align with the specific applications [
127,
131]. Moreover, this method has the advantage of printing multi-material structures through the use of multi-nozzle printers or by employing a print-pause-print strategy and swapping syringes containing different materials [
132,
133,
134,
135,
136].
One of the challenges of DIW is the need for specific techniques to prepare desirable ink formulations. The ink must exhibit viscoelastic and shear-thinning properties to resist gravity-induced deformation and capillary forces during the printing process. The selection of materials and their rheological properties directly influences the quality of the final printed components, contributing to the time-consuming nature of the method [
137]. Another limitation lies in the mechanical properties of DIW-fabricated structures. While DIW has precision and customization, the resulting printed components may exhibit poor mechanical properties compared to conventionally manufactured batteries [
138].
Some examples of DIW of batteries include:
Li et al. used the advantages of DIW to develop a highly conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Super-P aerogel composite anode with high resolution and complex hierarchically porous structure. The optimized rGO/Super-P aerogel electrode demonstrated a superior initial discharge capacity of 848.4 mA h at 80 mA cm
−2, a 14.9% improvement over traditional graphite electrodes with 61.8% capacity retention over 100 cycles. Additionally, the coulombic efficiency was measured higher than 95% over 100 cycles [
139].
In another study, Zhu et al. fabricated high resolution metallic 3D-Zn electrode structures using DIW. These designs with submillimeter sizes exhibited low electrical resistivity and high mechanical stability. The results showed that the cell operated over 50 cycles at high discharge rates of 25 mA cm
−2 achieving an average specific capacity of 214.85 mAh g
−1 which was the highest achieved amount compared to the similar electrodes fabricated by other methods. Moreover, the capacity retention over 50 cycles was 108% and the average coulombic efficiency of approximately 87% was achieved [
140].
Liu et al. developed Li
1.3Al
0.3Ti
1.7(PO
4)
3 (LATP) electrolyte for solid-state electrolytes in lithium batteries using DIW with post-heat treatment to enhance ceramic density, completing the formation of the final LATP solid-state electrolyte structures. They shaped these materials into various forms while maintaining high ionic conductivity 4.24 × 10
−4 S cm
−1 which is higher than the ones prepared by other methods (2.05 × 10
–4 S cm
-1). Through this process, the solid-state battery exhibited a high discharge capacity of 150 mAh g
-1 at 0.5 C, along with 84% capacity retention with an average coulombic efficiency of approximately 100% over 100 cycles [
141].
Tao et al. employed DIW to fabricate high-capacity 3D LiNi
0.8Mn
0.1Co
0.1O
2 (NMC) cathodes. This innovative approach increased the contact area, shortened diffusion paths, and reduced stress. The specific discharge capacities for the first and 800
th cycles were measured at 178.6 and 107.5 mAh g⁻¹, respectively, showing a capacity retention of 60.2% over the entire 800 cycles with an average coulombic efficiency of approximately 99.9% at a current density of 1 C. These results were superior compared to those achieved through conventional methods, which were equal to 162.3 mAh g⁻¹ in the first cycle and 88.3 mAh g⁻¹ which show a capacity retention of 54.4% in the 800
th cycle [
142].
Li et al. used DIW to fabricate a square grid electrode structure for lithium-ion batteries. The ink was prepared by combining LiFePO
4 (LFP), MWCNTs, and PVDF powder, forming a homogenized paste with NMP as a solvent. The results demonstrated the initial discharge capacity of 143.2 mA h g
−1 at 0.5 C, aligning with the theoretical specific capacity of 170 mA h g
−1. Moreover, the charge and discharge specific capacities remained stable, sustaining at approximately 150 mA h g
−1 even after 100 cycles at 0.5 C showing the capacity retention of 105%. Furthermore, the coulombic efficiency was measured around 99.9% over 500 cycles at 5C [
143].
Rasul et al. utilized DIW to embed highly aligned boron nitride (BN) nanosheets into PVdF polymer composite electrolytes (CPE) with complex structure. The achieved ionic conductivity was 6.74 x 10
-4 S cm
-1. The initial charge capacity of the cells prepared with CPE-BN was 156 mAh g
-1, which was comparable to the theoretical capacity of 165 mAh g
−1. The cell exhibited a consistent discharge capacity of 132 mAh g
–1 over 130 cycles at 1C rate (140 mA g
–1) and a capacity retention of 90% after 250 cycles [
144].
Liu et al. utilized DIW for fabricating a comb-like structure SiO@C/graphite anode and LFP cathode for lithium-ion batteries. The full cell assembled with both the printed anode and cathode exhibited a specific capacity of 110 mAh g-1 for the initial cycles, decreasing to 75 mAh g-1 at 0.3 C after 40 cycles. Notably, the capacity retention remained at 68.2% after 80 cycles, and the initial coulombic efficiency of 70% improved to 100% after the first few cycles [
145].
Table 1 provides a summary and comparison of the electrochemical performance achieved through the direct ink writing method for batteries. As evident from the results in
Table 1, this technique is versatile which proves its applicability to enhance battery efficiency in the fabrication of different battery components including anode, cathode, and solid electrolyte.
Figure 3 illustrates the capacity retention of these cells. As can be seen, high-capacity retentions, even exceeding 100%, can be achieved through the fabrication of battery components using this method. This is promising for fabricating high-performance battery cells with a long cycle life.
3.2. FFF
FFF is a widely adopted 3D printing technique, including in the field of battery manufacturing. It is used widely by various manufacturers and open-source 3D printing communities, representing the broader category of 3D printing technologies utilizing melted filament deposition. On the other hand, fused filament modeling (FDM), trademarked by Stratasys, is a proprietary 3D printing technology using FFF associated only with Stratasys machines [
146]. This process operates by melting a thermoplastic filament in a heated nozzle. FFF was radically reduced in price and improved performance due to the open source self-replicating rapid prototype (RepRap) project and is now the most popular form of 3D printing [
147,
148,
149]. Within the context of 3D-printed batteries, FFF is employed to produce essential battery components including electrodes, solid state electrolyte, and current collector. For this purpose, FFF offers the capability to integrate conductive materials into the filament, creating conductive pathways within the battery structure [
150,
151,
152,
153]. FFF is a widely adopted 3D printing technique, including in the field of battery manufacturing. This process operates by melting a thermoplastic filament in a heated nozzle. One of the advantage of FFF 3D printing is that unlike DIW that requires specialized inks, it eliminates the need for ink preparation which simplifies the printing process [
108]. Furthermore, its ability to create complex battery designs with the resolution of 50 to 200 µm is a feature that enables the fabrication of battery components that may be challenging to produce using conventional methods [
108,
154].
FFF generates minimal waste during the printing process which is in alignment with sustainable manufacturing practices [
154] and is a mature distributed recycling technology [
155,
156,
157,
158]. Additionally, the accessibility of FFF along with the user-friendly interface and ease of operation, make it an economical choice for battery production [
150,
159]. In addition to the low cost, FFF printers are capable of high production rates, suitable for both prototyping and large-scale manufacturing of battery components [
160]. Furthermore, FFF is capable of printing multi-material, which enables its ability to print various battery components on top of each other [
161,
162].
Despite the advantages, FFF of batteries presents its own drawbacks. One of the most important challenges of FFF 3D printing is the material selection to formulate a suitable filament which often leads to difficulties in filament fabrication [
30]. The integration of active and conductive particles, necessary to enhance electrochemical performance, can diminish the overall printability of the filament which makes the production process more complex [
163]. Moreover, this incorporation can increase the viscosity of the filament which results in the risk of nozzle clogging during the printing operation [
150,
164]. Beyond these material-related issues, the printed part has weak mechanical properties in the z-direction due to challenges in ensuring proper layer adhesion [
31,
114,
165] and the inherent anisotropy of the process [
166]. Furthermore, the printing process can result in components with lower surface quality [
31,
167].
Some examples of FFF of batteries include:
Beydaghi et al. utilized FFF to create 3D printed Si-based electrodes for Li-ion batteries. They fabricated the PLA filament as the polymeric matrix along with carbon-based conductive additives, and Si nanoparticles. The results showed that the coulombic efficiency progressively increased from 90% in the first cycle to 96% after 10 cycles which remained stable up to 350 cycles. At the 350
th cycle, the electrode exhibited a specific capacity of 327 mA h g
−1, coupled with capacity retention of 95% at the current density of 20 mA g
−1 [
168].
Maurel et al. developed a 3D printable graphite/PLA filament through optimizing the graphite content of the filament along with the plasticizer for lithium-ion battery electrodes. Among compositions, the one with the highest amount of conductive additives achieved the initial capacity of 93 mAh g
–1 which reached the highest specific capacity of 200 mAh g
-1 (215% capacity retention) at the current density of 18.6 mA g
-1 (C/20) over 6 cycles. These results were comparable with the theoretical capacity of the active materials [
154].
In another work, Maurel et al. produced PLA/LFP as positive electrode and PLA/SiO
2 as the separator for Li-ion batteries. The results when PLA/Graphite was used as the negative electrode showed that the composition made of the 10% of the conductive material had the highest specific capacity of 165 mAh g
-1 at C/20 over 30 cycles (97% capacity retention) close the theoretical capacity [
169].
Gao et al. improved Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries by designing hierarchical core–shell cathodes by integrating the FDM and atomic layer deposition (ALD). In their work, the FFF printed porous carbon network provided an electron-conductive core and ion diffusion channels, while V
2O
5 deposited through the ALD served as an active shell. This resulted in enhanced battery performance, with a specific capacity of 425 mAh g-1 at 0.3 A g
-1, and 233 mAh g
−1 at 3 A g
−1 current density. The capacity at 3 A g
−1 current density reduces to 183 mAh g
-1 after 200 cycles and 133 mAh g
-1 after 800 cycles showing 78.5% and 57.1% capacity retention, respectively. Additionally, the coulombic efficiency was around 99.9% [
170].
Foster et al. utilized a graphene/PLA filament with controllable graphene content, ranging from 1 to 40 wt.%, enabling the creation of 3D printed freestanding anodes with sufficient conductivity and printability, eliminating the need for a copper current collector. The results showed that the initial specific capacity was 500 mAh g
−1 which reaches to about 100 mAh g
−1 with the coulombic efficiency around 99.9% at 40 mA g
−1 over 200 cycles. Comparing the achieved capacity with the theoretical capacity of graphite (375 mAh g
-1) and graphene (744 mAh g
-1), it can be concluded that this capacity lies between these two values. It is clear that the 3D printed anode exhibits graphene-like electrochemical performance [
171].
Hu et al. produced TPU-LFP, TPU-LTO, TPU-Graphite, and TPU-NCM filaments and printed high-performance cathodes and anodes via FDM. The cells made with TPU-LFP cathode showed the initial capacity of 114.1 mAh g-1 with 99.12% capacity retention (113.1 mAh g
-1) with 99.75% coulombic efficiency after 200 cycles, and 98.9% capacity retention after 400 cycles. Moreover, the cell made by the TPU-LTO anode showed 117.2% capacity retention increasing from 102.4 to 120.0 mAh g-1 with 100.39% coulombic efficiency over 200 cycles, and 97.94% capacity retention with 99.04% coulombic efficiency over 270 cycles. Additionally, the full cell assembled by the TPU-LFP cathode and TPU-LTO anode exhibited 97.1% capacity retention at the rate of 0.3 C and a coulombic efficiency of 97.4% after 50 cycles. All of the results indicate higher capacity retention in this work compared to the similar ones [
172].
In another study, Maurel et al. developed a 3D-printable polyethylene oxide/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PEO/LiTFSI) filament which was designed for use as the electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. The achieved ionic conductivity was 2.18 x 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 90˚C which shows the capability of FFF in fabricating solid-state electrolytes [
173].
Table 2 provides a summary of examples of FFF printed battery components, including anode, cathode, separator, and electrolyte which shows the potential of this method to fabricate all-solid-state batteries.
Figure 4 illustrates the capacity retention of the FFF printed cells as a funciton of cycles. As can be seen, the fabricated cells show high-capacity retention.
3.3. IJP
This method operates by selectively depositing small droplets of specialized inks onto a substrate in a layer-by-layer process. The ink contains essential materials for battery components, such as electrodes, electrolytes, and current collectors, finely dispersed within a liquid carrier. After each layer is printed, it may undergo processes like drying or curing before the printer proceeds to deposit the subsequent layer [
31,
174].
IJP offers numerous advantages in battery fabrication. By depositing precise amounts of the ink only where needed to eliminate waste, IJP ensures that the materials are utilized efficiently which results in minimizing environmental impact and cost [
175,
176]. Another advantage is its lower viscosity requirement compared to DIW. This characteristic simplifies the formulation and handling of printable inks which makes the IJP practical and adaptable for a wide range of materials and applications [
174]. This method is also capable of multi-material deposition which provides the controlled deposition of active materials of battery components [
177]. Moreover, the affordability of IJP equipment along with the ease of use make this technique an accessible choice for the battery manufacturing process [
138].
Despite the advantages, a uniform printed structure through IJP can be challenging and to maintain both battery performance and structural integrity, fine features and adhesion layers precisely is required [
174]. Furthermore, while IJP requires lower ink viscosity than DIW, the properties of the ink, such as viscosity and density, need to be optimized to meet the standards. This optimization is essential to avoid issues including the ink agglomeration and the nozzle clogging [
175].
Some examples of IJP of batteries include: Lawes et al. utilized IJP for efficient and cost-effective fabrication of silicon anodes using Si nanoparticles and PEDOT:PSS as a conductive binder. These anodes achieved remarkable cycling performance. The initial capacity was measured 3800 mAh g
-1 in the first cycle which reduced to 2700 in the following cycles. Moreover, the achieved capacity was more than 1700 mAh g
−1 at 0.1 C showing the capacity retention of 63% over 100 cycles. The coulombic efficiency starts from 31% and 75% in the first two cycles and increases to 98.6% for the remaining cycles. The electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS and reversible deformation properties formed a continuous conductive network, ensuring rapid electron transfer and accommodating SiNP volume changes during charge and discharge [
179].
Chen et al. used IJP to fabricate a dendrite-free Zn anode with Ag nano particles for Zn metal batteries. They inkjet-printed Ag nanoparticles-modified carbon cloth (AgNPs@CC) leading to reducing nucleation overpotential and promoting uniform Zn nucleation. This resulted in the initial discharge capacity of 255 mAh g
-1 at 5 A g
-1 reaching 184 mAh g
-1 after 1200 cycles with only 0.023% capacity fade rate in each cycle with the coulombic efficiency of about 99.5% within 800 cycles. Nonetheless, as reported in this work, the similar anode fabricated without inkjet-printed Ag nanoparticles exhibited a capacity retention rate of 42.9% after 700 cycles [
180].
Kushwaha et al. utilized IJP to deposit graphene inks made from graphene nanosheets in ethanol solvent and ethyl-cellulose stabilizer onto different substrate including Cu foil. The print was followed by annealing to achieve conductivity and porosity. The reversible capacity was about 520 mAh g
-1 with capacity retention of about 87% after 100 cycles at 2C which is a high current density. Furthermore, the initial coulombic efficiency was 95% reaching to more than 99% over 100 cycles [
181].
In their other work, Kushwaha et al. used IJP to deposit a graphene layer onto an Al current collector foil, addressing corrosion issues in cathode current collector. This work significantly suppressed corrosion, achieving about 180 mAh g
-1 initial capacity at C/5 with ∼90% capacity retention after 100 cycles [
182].
Viviani et al. investigated the impact of carbon-based additives, such as carbon black and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, on the electrochemical performance of inkjet-printed thin-film LTO electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. Between the carbon-based additives, the carbon nanotube electrode achieved the highest specific capacity, reaching 128 mAh g
−1 at 0.5 C, and exhibited excellent cycle stability with negligible capacity loss (100% capacity retention) and the average coulombic efficiency of 100% over 100 cycles [
183].
Kolchanov et al. utilized inkjet printing to fabricate thin-film Li-ion batteries through the optimization of Li
1.2Mn
0.54Ni
0.13Co
0.13O
2 (LMR) cathode. The study demonstrated comparable discharge capacities 240 mAh g⁻¹ between inkjet and conventional methods at 0.01 C rate with 68.7% capacity retention over 70 cycles [
184].
These examples are shown
Table 3 representing the effectiveness of IJP to improve the battery performance through the fabrication of different battery components.
Figure 5 illustrates the capacity retention of the IJP printed cells. As can be seen, AgNPs@CC anode fabricated by this method shows high capacity retention of 100% over 1200 cycles which is noticeable and indicates the high electrochemical performance of the cell.
3.4. SLA
SLA, a prominent light-assisted 3D printing technology, operates by employing a light source to solidify a polymer resin selectively layer by layer. The versatility and precision offered by SLA make it a valuable tool in various industries, with notable applications emerging within the energy storage systems [
31,
185,
186].
One of the advantages of SLA is its high resolution, which can reach up to 0.5 micrometers which makes it a well-suited for applications demanding complex geometries [
30,
97,
187,
188]. Additionally, SLA is nozzle-free, setting it apart from some other 3D printing methods. This feature eliminates the risk of nozzle clogs or filament feed issues which makes the printing process more reliable and uninterrupted [
30,
96,
189]. Furthermore, objects produced through SLA generally exhibit smooth and highly detailed surface finishes [
94,
190]. The technique also excels in layer bonding due to its chemical curing process, resulting in strong layer-to-layer adhesion. This attributes to high mechanical strength, structural integrity, and durability of printed objects [
191].
The preparation of printable resins containing the right blend of active materials, photoinitiators, and monomers can be a complex process [
30]. Flowability of the resin is another crucial consideration. If the flowability is not properly balanced, it can hinder the printing process and result in suboptimal print quality [
30]. Additionally, the refractive index of the resin is of great importance. An unsuitable refractive index can cause UV light to scatter within the resin, which can result in defects, incomplete curing, compromised mechanical properties, and a lack of printing accuracy [
30,
185,
192]. An unsuitable refractive index can cause UV light to scatter within the resin, which can result in defects, incomplete curing, compromised mechanical properties, and a lack of printing accuracy [
30,
185,
192]. SLA 3D printing system tends to be relatively expensive high cost for industrial applications too [
96]. The price per printed object, especially for simpler designs or smaller projects, might be comparable to those from other 3D printing methods. The overall affordability of SLA technology may vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the printed objects and the specific requirements of the application. Furthermore, post-processing requirements are often necessary for SLA prints. These post-processing steps, such as excess resin cleaning, can be time-consuming and may influence the final accuracy and surface finish of printed objects [
31].
Some examples of SLA of batteries include: He et al. developed a solid polymer electrolyte containing lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries using SLA. The printed structure showed high ionic conductivity of 3.7 × 10
–4 S cm
–1 with initial specific capacity of 166 mAh g
–1 at 0.1 C with 78% capacity retention and the coulombic efficiency around 100% over 250 cycles [
116].
Chen et al. utilized SLA to fabricate Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-base gel polymer electrolyte containing LiClO
4 salt. The cell was made by a 3D printed solid electrolyte flown by LTO and LFP as electrodes. The results indicated that the electrolyte can deliver high ionic conductivity of 4.8 × 10
−3 S cm
–1 with delivered the discharge capacity of 1.4 µAh cm
-2 over 2 cycles at 5 µA current which showed the potential of this method in the fabrication of the gel-based electrolyte for lithium ion batteries [
193].
Norjely et al. employed SLA to fabricate a polyurethane acrylate (PUA)-based gel polymer electrolyte containing lithium perchlorate (LiClO
4) for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. They concluded that the ionic conductivity of the printed solid electrolyte was high equal to 1.24 × 10
−3 S cm
−1 showing the method promising in the fabrication of the solid-state lithium ion batteries [
194].
Zekoll et al. used SLA to create 3D templates from structured ceramic-polymer solid electrolytes made by Li
1.4Al
0.4Ge
1.6 (PO
4)
3 (LAGP). These electrolytes were composed of a 3D ceramic scaffold with the channels filled by non-conducting polymers including polypropylene or epoxy polymer leading to a high ionic conductivity of 1.6 × 10
−4 S cm
−1 along with the high mechanical stability [
117].
Lee et al. employed DLP printing for making high conductivity poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solid polymer electrolyte. These printed electrolytes exhibited an ionic conductivity of 3 × 10
−4 S cm
−1 [
195].
Katsuyama et al. utilized SLA 3D printing and pyrolysis to fabricate hard carbon microlattices as a free-standing anode for sodium ion batteries. The highest specific capacity was 225 mAh g-1 at 5 mA g−1 with the coulombic efficiency of 80% in the initial cycle reaching to 99.4% over the 2nd cycle. The capacity retention was measured about 80% over 100 cycles [
196].
Ye et al. employed a DLP printer to create a Si/PEDOT:PSS/PEG (20/5/60) electrode with commercial silicon nanoparticles for lithium-ion batteries. Their aim was to maximize energy storage while minimizing battery weight. In their work, PEDOT:PSS served as the conductive component. The results demonstrated the structural integrity and flexibility of the printed part. Battery performance indicated that this method holds promise for fabricating silicon-based anodes, with an improved coulombic efficiency of up to 86.3% after 125 cycles. The initial discharge capacity of 1539 mAh g
-1 and a reversible capacity of 1105 mAh g
-1 (72% capacity retention) at 800 mA g−1 current density [
197].
Table 4 shows that until now, much of the research conducted on SLA printing of batteries focused on gel-based/solid electrolyte.
Figure 6 illustrates the capacity retention of the cells assembled by the SLA printed battery component.