3D-Printed Conducting Polymers for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

The development of 3D printing technologies provided a broad range of possibilities in several fields due to the possibilities in terms of design, structures, and detailed control of morphology. The use of such techniques can open a new realm for the use of conducting polymers and electroactive materials for the fabrication of components used in energy storage devices. This chapter starts with a brief introduction to the processing techniques related to 3D printing. The second section discusses the working principles of some of the most-researched energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), metal-air batteries (MABs), and lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). The third section presents some examples from the literature regarding the use of conducting polymers as ink components for 3D printing processes. The fourth section covers some of the most recent examples related to the applications of 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of components used in energy storage devices. This chapter aims to provide a targeted number of ideas that can give some insight to readers engaging in this area that is still in its infant stage. The examples provided here display the many possibilities available and hint at the unexplored areas for the optimization of electroactive materials using 3D printing technology.