Virtual and Physical Prototyping

Advances in 3D Printing Technology for Energy Storage Applications

3D printing technology has opened a new era for manufacturing industries, revolutionizing the way of designing and creating complex structures. This Article Collection spotlights the groundbreaking research and advancements that adopt 3D printing techniques to enhance and innovate energy storage (ES) solutions. 3D printing exhibits great potential for precise control over the geometry, microstructure, and functionality of energy storage materials and devices, leading to improved performance, higher energy densities, and the creation of novel forms that traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve. This Article Collection brings together research from leading experts and emerging scholars in the field, highlighting the transformative potential of 3D printing in designing more efficient, customizable, and scalable energy storage devices, thereby contributing significantly to the global energy landscape.

The escalating global population, contemporary lifestyles, and resource constraints underscore the urgent need for reliable energy sources. Energy storage provides a solution to achieve flexibility, enhance grid reliability and power quality, and accommodate the scale-up of renewable energy. The electrochemical-based ES market is expected to reach USD 51.10 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 14.31% to reach USD 99.72 billion by 2029. Hydrogen ES market was valued at USD 17.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to record over 8.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2032. In recent years, extensive research on 3D printing has been conducted to enhance energy storage applications. Proposing a special topic on 3D printing for energy storage applications is timely and essential.

Subtopics of this Article Collection include the use of 3D printing methods and its related techniques (e.g., generative design, process monitoring, and artificial intelligence models) to enhance various types of energy storage, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Electrochemical systems: Store energy in chemical form within cells that can be converted to electrical energy on demand. Types include lithium-ion, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and solid-state batteries. 3D printing enables the fabrication of electrodes and other components with highly optimized geometries that increase the surface area for reactions, conductivity, and cycle performance.
2. Capacitors: Store energy in the electric field between two electrodes, suitable for quick release of energy over short durations. By precisely structuring electrodes with enhanced surface areas and integrating advanced conductive materials, 3D printing significantly boosts the capacitance, charge-discharge speeds, and efficiency of supercapacitors.
3. Hydrogen fuel cells: Hydrogen-based energy storage converts electricity into hydrogen for storage and later use. 3D printing contributes by creating efficient electrolyzes and fuel cells, optimizing designs for better performance and integration into renewable energy systems, and advancing materials used for hydrogen storage solutions.
4. Mechanical-based devices: encompassing pumped hydro, compressed air, and flywheels, stores physical energy for later use. 3D printing enhances these systems by optimizing component designs and materials for improved efficiency and integration.
5. Thermal-based devices: using sensible, latent heat, and thermochemical methods, conserves heat or cold for future energy use. 3D printing innovates by fabricating complex storage structures and materials, enhancing energy efficiency.

Keywords: Energy storage applications, 3D printing, Battery manufacturing, Fuel cell manufacturing, Structure design and optimization

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 28 February 2027.

Please contact Zhan Yu at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select "Advances in 3D Printing Technology for Energy Storage Applications" from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Dr. Jing Shi is currently a full professor of mechanical engineering, with a courtesy appointment in materials science and engineering at University of Cincinnati. His areas of research interests include additive manufacturing process innovations, design for additive manufacturing, and emerging applications of additive manufacturing. He has published more than 250 refereed papers, of which more than 80 papers are in the field of additive manufacturing.

Dr. Yachao Wang is an Associate Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering of University of North Dakota. His research includes nano/micro-manufacturing, hybrid additive manufacturing, materials characterization, modeling of laser/material interaction, and smart manufacturing. He has published over 30 SCI papers, which have been cited over a thousand times, with an H-index of 19. He has led and participated in several projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and state (ND-EPSCOR).