Printing 3D Gel Polymer Electrolyte in Lithium-Ion Microbattery Using Stereolithography

Here we demonstrate the use of projection stereo-micro-lithography as a low-cost and high-throughput method to fabricate three dimensional (3D) microbattery. An Ultraviolet (UV)-curable Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-base gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) is first created. The GPE is then used as a resin for micro-stereolithography in order to build a 3D architecture of battery's electrolyte. Active materials, LiFePO 4 (LFP) and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO), are mixed with carbon black and the GPE resin, which is then flown into the 3D structure. Aluminum (Al) foil is cut and inserted as a current collector. The GPE is characterized and the microbattery is performed a cycling test. Results show a feasibility of microbattery fabrication using projection micro-stereolithography.