Recently, Wu Zhongshuai, a researcher in the 2D Materials Chemistry and Energy Application Research Group of the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis Fundamentals, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, cooperated with Wu Mingbo, a professor of China University of Petroleum (East China), and made progress in the research of 3D printed graphene micro supercapacitors, developed high-quality additive free graphene inks for 3D printing, and developed micro supercapacitors with high integration density, high output voltage and high voltage density.
Graphene has excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Therefore, graphene and its inks have broad application prospects in flexible electronic devices, thermal management devices, biomaterials devices, and other fields. However, existing 3D printed graphene inks involve oxidized graphene and various additives, which reduce the conductivity, thermal conductivity, and energy density of the device. The required freeze-assisted printing, reduction post-processing, and freeze-drying processes increase the complexity and cost of the process, making it difficult to meet the commercial application needs of 3D printed graphene inks.
This study developed a 3D printed graphene ink without polymer rheological agents, with high cost-effectiveness, high robustness, and environmental friendliness, using graphene, glycerol, and water exfoliated by electrochemical anodes as raw materials. The micro electrodes or devices printed with this ink do not contain non active materials such as polymers, reducing their adverse effects on energy storage and other potential application areas. The team used EMIMBF4/PVDF-HFP ionic gel as a quasi solid electrolyte to improve the electrochemical performance of the 3D printed graphene miniature supercapacitor. Its area specific capacitance was 4900mF/cm2, volume specific capacitance was 195.6F/cm3, area energy density was 2.1mW/cm2, and volume energy density was 23mW/cm3. It achieved stable cycling performance under 3.5V high voltage and 100 ° C high temperature. In addition, in order to meet the high working voltage requirements of actual electronic devices, this work has achieved high integration number, high integration density, high output voltage, and high voltage density of 3D printed single-chip integrated micro supercapacitors. The above achievements are expected to lay a scientific foundation and provide application guidance for the commercialization of graphene in the field of 3D printing.
The relevant research results are titled Electrically Exfoliated Graphene Additive Free Inks for 3D Printing Customized Monolithic Integrated Micro Supercapacitors on a Large Scale and published in Advanced Materials. The research work has received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Innovation Fund of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics.
Paper link
