Laser Processing of 3D Electrodes for High-Performance Metal-ion Batteries

With the fast development and application of metal-ion batteries in electronic devices, electric vehicles, and smart grids, the demand for high-performance batteries is dramatically increasing. Three-dimensional (3D) electrodes have emerged as an effective strategy to improve the performance of various batteries. As an emerging precision manufacturing technology, laser processing has recently been demonstrated to offer significant advantages in fabricating 3D electrodes and tailoring material and structural properties. In this review, the principles of designing 3D electrodes are comprehensively analyzed first from the perspective of enhancing overall battery performance. Based on these targeted 3D structures, the platform and techniques of laser processing are systematically introduced, and the typical methods-including laser texturing, laser drilling, laser cutting, and laser-induced modification-are demonstrated. As a result, the review highlights performance enhancements in practical capacity, rate capability, cycling stability, and operation under extreme conditions. Moreover, the compatibility of laser processing with current battery manufacturing technologies is discussed, and the potential for high-efficiency, large-scale fabrication of 3D electrodes using laser techniques is envisaged. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for laser processing of 3D electrodes are summarized, providing a systematic understanding of this emerging technology. This review is anticipated to guide both fundamental research and industrial applications of laser-processed high-performance 3D electrodes.