Three-dimensional microbattery

Exciting research is underway to improve the performance and longevity of batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells. Much of this research is directed at enhancing the chemistry in these systems through the use of polymer electrolytes, nanoparticle catalysts, and various membrane supports. Additionally, considerable effort is being put into the construction of three-dimensional microbatteries, see also Electrochemistry AIaterials Science Solar Cells. 

Figure 8.5 Three-dimensional microbattery design using MEMS technology showing (a) critical elements, (b) MCP substrate with perforated holes, and (c) cross-sectional view of the 3D microbattery.

Nathan M, Golodnitsky D, Yufit V, Strauss E, Ripenbein T, Shechtman I, Menkin S, Peled E (2(X)5) Three-dimensional thin-fim Li-ion microbatteries for autonomous MEMS. J Microelectromechan S 14(5) 879-885... 

Pikul, J.H., Zhang, H., Cho, J. Braun, P. King, W.P. High-power lithium ion microbatteries from interdigitated three-dimensional bicontinuous nanoporous electrodes. Nature Commun. 4 (2013), 1732. 

Low-power and miniaturized electronic, electrical, infrared, and electro-optical sensors require miniaturized power sources or batteries to keep their size and weight to a minimum. The miniaturized power sources are nothing but three-dimensional (3D), thin-film microbatteries (MBs). Specific structural details of such a battery are illustrated in Figure 6.1. Deployment of conformal thin-film structures provides distinct advantages over conventional miniaturized structures. Additionally, the planar two-dimensional (2D) thin-film batteries cannot be classified as MBs, because they require large footprints of a few square centimeters to achieve a reasonable battery capacity. Studies performed by the author on miniaturized structures reveal that the maximum energy available from a thin-film battery is about 2 J/cm. Commercial thin-film batteries with a 3 cm footprint have a capacity of 0.4 mAh, which comes to about 0.133 mAh/cm. Thus, the 3D, thin-film, Li-ion, MB can meet the power requirements for low-power, miniaturized... 

Oudenhoven, J.F.M., Baggetto, L., and Notten, P.H.L. (2011) All-solid-state lithium-ion microbatteries a review of various three-dimensional concepts. Adv. Energy Mater., 1 (1), 10-33. 

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