Direct write dispenser printed energy storage devices

As electronic devices become smaller in size and more specialized in functionality, a paradigm shift in energy storage design and manufacture is beginning to emerge, and can be realized with the development of simple, low-cost, solutions-based processing methods to incorporate custom energy buffers directly onto a device. We have been developing the materials and direct write fabrication methods for printing carbon based electrochemical microcapacitors and zinc microbatteries directly onto a substrate. Our materials efforts include the optimization of mechanical and ionic transport properties of ionic liquid gel electrolytes, and this has enabled the fabrication of completely printable "solid-state" capacitors and batteries, mitigating manufacturing and packaging concerns. Through a pneumatic direct write dispenser printing system, the energy storage devices can be patterned and integrated directly on-chip, and initial device characterization has been conducted.