Facile 3D Metal Electrode Fabrication for Energy Applications via Inkjet Printing and Shape Memory Polymer

14th International Conference on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications

物理学;能源学

Roberts, R.C.^1 ; Wu, J.^2 ; Hau, N.Y.^3 ; Chang, Y.H.^3 ; Feng, S.P.^3 ; Li, D.C.^2

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong^1

State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China^2

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong^3

关键词: 3-D electrodes;    Direct-patterning;    Electrolyte solutions;    Energy applications;    Large surface area;    Shape memory polymers;    Size reductions;    Thermal curing;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/557/1/012006/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/557/1/012006

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

This paper reports on a simple 3D metal electrode fabrication technique via inkjet printing onto a thermally contracting shape memory polymer (SMP) substrate. Inkjet printing allows for the direct patterning of structures from metal nanoparticle bearing liquid inks. After deposition, these inks require thermal curing steps to render a stable conductive film. By printing onto a SMP substrate, the metal nanoparticle ink can be cured and substrate shrunk simultaneously to create 3D metal microstructures, forming a large surface area topology well suited for energy applications. Polystyrene SMP shrinkage was characterized in a laboratory oven from 150-240°C, resulting in a size reduction of 1.97-2.58. Silver nanoparticle ink was patterned into electrodes, shrunk, and the topology characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Zinc-Silver Oxide microbatteries were fabricated to demonstrate the 3D electrodes compared to planar references. Characterization was performed using 10M potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution doped with zinc oxide (57g/L). After a 300s oxidation at 3Vdc, the 3D electrode battery demonstrated a 125% increased capacity over the reference cell. Reference cells degraded with longer oxidations, but the 3D electrodes were fully oxidized for 4 hours, and exhibited a capacity of 5.5mA-hr/cm2with stable metal performance.