Aqueous Multivalent Metal-ion Batteries: Toward 3D-printed Architectures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium-ion batteries face supply constraints, driving demand for alternatives like aqueous multivalent metal-ion batteries (AMVIBs).
• AMVIBs utilize abundant and eco-friendly elements but are hindered by slow ion kinetics and cathode material instability.
• Current nanoengineering strategies for cathodes are limited by low mass-loading, necessitating advanced engineering approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce 3D printing as a transformative strategy for designing AMVIB cathodes.
• To review current challenges and recent advancements in AMVIB cathode materials.
• To explore how 3D-printed cathode structures can overcome existing limitations.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on AMVIB cathode materials and their challenges.
• Illustration of various 3D-printed cathode structural designs.
• Discussion of technological advancements in 3D printing for AMVIB applications.

Main Results:

• 3D printing enables the creation of complex cathode architectures that improve ion diffusion and stability.
• Pioneering work demonstrates the potential of 3D-printed cathodes in enhancing AMVIB performance.
• Additive manufacturing offers a pathway to overcome mass-loading limitations in conventional cathode designs.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing-enabled structural design is a promising strategy for advancing AMVIB technology.
• Further development in 3D printing processes is crucial for realizing the full potential of advanced AMVIBs.
• This review provides a new perspective on multivalent metal-ion batteries and additive manufacturing's role.