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, LiFePO₄ (LFP) and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (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.