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Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing Functional materials for AM

performance over approximately 1500 bending cycles free control of shapes and the fabrication of precise
(Figure 7A and B). This research, by enhancing the structures, including flexible batteries. Consequently,
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gauge factor, has improved precision and shown new research is progressing on 3D printing carbon-based
potential in fields such as robotics engineering and materials, which constitute the major parts of a battery,
wearable sensors, which demand precise measurements. to address these problems.
In addition, a strain sensor using graphene-based A state-of-the-art flexible battery was developed
polylactic acid with TPU was developed through FDM. with a CNT: MnO anode. It achieved a capacity of
2
It operates on the principle of piezoresistivity, calculating 63 μAh cm at 0.4 mA cm and experienced only a
-2
−2
variations in resistance induced by applied tensile and 2.72% loss in capacity when the battery was bent. This
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compressive strain. The study demonstrated the advancement holds promise for the development of
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possibility of enhancing flexibility by more than fourfold wearable electronic devices, medical devices, and smart
while maintaining a high level of sensitivity comparable clothing. Furthermore, a lithium-ion battery utilizing
to that of a typical graphene sensor. graphene nanosheets with solvent exfoliation using
green solvent (ethanol) and stabilizer (1 wt% ethyl-
3.6.2. Batteries
cellulose) was developed through inkjet printing. The
Most lithium-ion batteries share similar shapes and solid battery achieved a capacity of approximately 942 mAh/g
properties. However, since the majority of electronic at 0.1 C. Even after 100 cycles of bending, the electrode
devices use batteries and their design must accommodate retained approximately 87% of its initial capacity, as
the battery, it hinders the free design of electric devices. shown in Figure 7C. It demonstrated outstanding
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To overcome these drawbacks, there is increasing battery performance and scalability in industries such as
attention on 3D printing technology, which enables smartphones and automobiles. Furthermore, a lithium-ion

A B

C

Figure 7. Fabrication and application of carbon-based materials. (A) Schematic diagram illustrating the meniscus-guided printing process for fabricating
a transparent paper-based flexible thermoelectric generator (TEG), along with its resulting structure. (B) The fabrication process of an all-carbon fully
printed and flexible TEG, including its structure, flexibility, and overall composition. Images in (A) and (B) reproduced with permission from Wajahat
et al. Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society. (C) A schematic depiction of the graphene ink, inkjet-printing process, and annealing of printed
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samples in the production of graphene thin-film electrodes for use in lithium-ion batteries. Images reproduced with permission from Kushwaha et al.
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Copyright © 2021 American Chemical Society.
Volume 3 Issue 2 (2024) 18 doi: 10.36922/msam.3323