14 DAY TRIAL // Researcher Jennifer Lewis, a materials scientist at the Harvard University, is currently conducting work that may soon enable the development of lithium-ion batteries that can be manufactured via 3D printing technologies. She has already figured out a way to build the basic components of batteries out of ink.
If and when her work is successfully, researchers may bring forth a new class of high-performing electronics, as well as the lithium-ion batteries to power them, Technology Review reports. This technique is currently still in its infancy, but early results are very promising.
The first thing Lewis did was create a series of functional inks that can turn into batteries and simple electronic components when they solidify. Some of these items include wires, antennas and electrodes.
After the inks were produced, she moved on to having a series of nozzles and high-pressure extruders custom-built for her lab. These tools enabled her to use commercially available 3D printers for manufacturing very tiny components. Various types of nanoparticles were used as building materials.