Project description
Developing an innovative 3D printing solution for polymeric batteries
Batteries play a critical role in numerous industries worldwide, serving as essential mobile energy sources and adaptable storage solutions for technologies like renewable energy. However, the limitations in battery production hinder the availability of diverse shapes and stifle future innovation. To address this challenge, the EU-funded iPES-3DBat project aims to develop a ground-breaking solution for polymer battery production using a rapid and cost-effective 3D printing process. Unlike current options, this process enables the creation of batteries with different shapes and structures through the advantages of 3D structuring. Moreover, it allows for higher energy and power densities, leading to reduced costs and increased efficiency. By revolutionising battery manufacturing, the iPES-3DBat project will pave the way for transformative advancements in the industry.
Objective
One of the actual limitations of the current batteries is their rigidity and limited shape availability (cylindrical or flat). Furthermore, the manufacturing of current electrodes/cells is a long process which requires big investments for battery fabrication facilities. The idea of “iPES-3DBat” Proof of Concept grant will be to develop polymer batteries by a fast and cheap 3D printing process. Compared to the traditional planar structure of cells, 3D structuring provides different shapes as well as other advantages such as higher power density and higher energy density due to the increased surface area of electrodes. The iPES-3DBat research will be dedicated to develop 3D printable inks with the already developed energetic polymers. These new inks will be patented and used to build all polymer cell prototypes by 3D printing with different geometries, flexibility, low weight and recyclability. This new technology will target future applications in wearable electronics, medical devices, fitness, toys and other small electronic devices. After a strict market study, the creation of a spin-off will be pursued.
iPES-3DBat PoC will move the polymers developed within iPES ERC grant towards the commercialization stage. This PoC will take advantage of the possibility of polymers to be processed by 3D printing. At the same time, the benefits of 3D printing will be used to develop battery prototypes in a fast way, to save money by using a cheap method, to accelerate the innovation process and shorten the time-to-market. The success of this idea will involve the development of energetic inks/materials which allow the delocalization of the manufacturing of batteries with the possibility of producing anywhere.
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Funding Scheme
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantHost institution
48940 Leioa
Spain