Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Printed battery
A good example of an integrated system is a 3D printed battery. If you open
a battery chemistry textbook, you'll ind dozens of recipes to make batter-
ies—standard alkaline batteries, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, zinc-air
batteries, and lots more. All batteries have the same basic structure: an anode
and a cathode material, with a “separation layer” in between, like a cheese
sandwich with white bread on top and whole wheat bread underneath. The
large, thin sandwich is then rolled up and encased in a tube and connected to
two wires: one to the anode and one to the cathode.
What makes the battery work is that ions (charged atoms) present in the
anode badly want to move into the cathode. When they move, they create a
bit of electric current. Different combinations of anode and cathode materials
(bread), separation layers (cheese), and battery geometry make for a vast range
of battery types and performance characteristics.
Evan Malone's 3D printed robot ish, battery and actuator
included (2010). It didn't quite swim out of the printer.
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