Project: #50
Additive Manufacturing of Energy Generation and Storage Devices
The project combines IITM's expertise and resources in developing energy generation and storage devices with Deakin’s expertise and resources in additive manufacturing of advanced materials. It will explore the 3D printing of multi-level porosity silicon and carbon-based anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes for batteries and electrolysers.
3D printing provides exciting opportunities to design and develop novel, high-performance, and customised components for such electrochemical systems. However, their use in electrochemistry has been limited due to the lack of suitable print materials and resolution. Dr Gupta (Deakin Collaborator) has recently developed new materials and methods for high-resolution 3D printing of silicon, carbon, and metal composites, which provide the required material properties and print resolution for different electrochemical applications. Moreover, the developed method allows fine control over the pore size and their distribution (1 nm and above) and the integration of multiple such materials into a monolithic body. The developed capability will be amalgamated with Prof. Kothandaraman's (IITM Collaborator) expertise in designing and developing high-performance batteries and electrolysers to explore the next generation of energy generation and storage systems.