3D Printing Plasmonic-Enhanced Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Cathodes for High-Energy Li-S Microbatteries
Yu Liu1, Penghao Fu1, Jieshan Qiu2
1State Key Lab of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has fueled the demand for high-energy, compact microbatteries capable of powering energy-demanding IoT devices in small, flexible formats. Li-S batteries offer a promising solution but suffer from more intense polysulfide (LiPS) shuttling in the limited volume of microbatteries. Here, we achieved a high-energy quasi-solid-state Li-S microbattery by employing 3D-printed hierarchically structured sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (3D-HSPAN) cathodes with plasmonic enhancement. The direct ink writing technique produces shape-customizable 3D-HSPAN cathodes with precise architectural engineering, ultra-high mass loading up to 37.1 mg cm-2, and greatly improved ionic transport. Plasmonic MXene is harnessed to further boost LiPS-free redox conversion through synergistic photothermal effect and hot-carrier injection under near-infrared irradiation. Paired with a LiNO3 sustained-release carbonate-based gel polymer electrolyte, such quasi-solid-state Li-S microbatteries deliver high areal capacities over 18.1 mAh cm-2 and exceptional areal energy density reaching 30.7 mWh cm-2. Their versatility in flexible, transparent, and shape-customizable formats is demonstrated for wearable electronics and low-temperature operation. This work establishes a framework for uniting additive manufacturing, high-energy redox chemistry, and light-harvesting strategies to advance energy solutions.
