High-Performance Packaged 3D Lithium-Ion Microbatteries Fabricated Using Imprint Lithography

Fabrication of high-energy-density and high-power-density packaged long-cycle-life rechargeable microbatteries remains a considerable challenge. Here, high-performance microbatteries with high active volume fraction, thick, 3D-structured electrodes (V2O5 cathode and Li metal anode) are realized through a combination of imprint lithography, self-assembly, and electrodeposition. To assist the critical challenge of hermetic packaging, the microbattery is infilled with a gel electrolyte. The packaged cell exhibits high areal energy and power densities of 1.24 J cm(-2) and 75.5 mW cm(-2), respectively, and can be cycled 550 times in argon or 200 times in air with 75% capacity retention of the initial discharge capacity. An unpackaged cell, using a liquid electrolyte, provides a power density of 218 mW cm(-2). As far as it is known, the microbatteries have the highest peak power density among all reported microbatteries.

Automated summary

The research team has successfully fabricated high-performance microbatteries with high energy and power densities, achieving long cycle life. By infilling the gel electrolyte and utilizing thick, 3D-structured electrodes, the performance of the microbatteries has been significantly improved.