A groundbreaking single-step laser printing technique developed at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is poised to transform lithium-sulfur battery manufacturing.
Led by Prof. Mitch Li Guijun, the team's innovation integrates active material synthesis and cathode preparation into a rapid, nanosecond-scale process. This promises to significantly accelerate the production of printable electrochemical energy storage devices.
Lithium-sulfur batteries hold immense potential due to their high theoretical energy density. The new laser printing method overcomes the challenges of traditional multi-step fabrication processes, which are often time-consuming and costly.
The technique involves a high-throughput laser-pulse irradiation process that activates a precursor donor. This produces jetting particles containing in-situ synthesized halloysite-based hybrid nanotubes, sulfur species, and glucose-derived porous carbon.
This mixture is then printed onto a carbon fabric, forming an integrated sulfur cathode. Prof. Li notes that traditional methods can take days, while their laser-induced conversion technology achieves the same in nanoseconds.
A 75 x 45 mm sulfur cathode can be printed in just 20 minutes, powering a small screen for hours. Dr. Yang Rongliang highlights the laser-induced conversion as an ultra-concentrated thermal phenomenon, enabling the formation and combination of diverse materials.