MORE | Spring 2024

Additive Manufacturing of Polymer-based Lithium Salt Electrolyte with Enhanced Physical Properties towards High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Over the past decade, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become an attractive power source due to their high energy density and recharging capabilities. However, challenges associated with poor cyclability, and weak mechanical properties of the electrolyte hinder their practical use with promising anode materials like silicon. Additive manufacturing, particularly mask image-based vat photopolymerization, offers high resolution and fast printing times that can produce polymer components with intricate morphologies in contrast to conventional manufacturing techniques. This research aims to develop a photocurable polymer-based lithium salt electrolyte with improved mechanical and electrochemical properties that can be integrated with 3D-printed silicon anodes.