title: 3D Printed Graphene Based Energy Storage Devices.
abstract: 3D printing technology provides a unique platform for rapid prototyping of numerous applications due to its ability to produce low cost 3D printed platforms. Herein, a graphene-based polylactic acid filament (graphene/PLA) has been 3D printed to fabricate a range of 3D disc electrode (3DE) configurations using a conventional RepRap fused deposition moulding (FDM) 3D printer, which requires no further modification/ex-situ curing step. To provide proof-of-concept, these 3D printed electrode architectures are characterised both electrochemically and physicochemically and are advantageously applied as freestanding anodes within Li-ion batteries and as solid-state supercapacitors. These freestanding anodes neglect the requirement for a current collector, thus offering a simplistic and cheaper alternative to traditional Li-ion based setups. Additionally, the ability of these devices' to electrochemically produce hydrogen via the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as an alternative to currently utilised platinum based electrodes (with in electrolysers) is also performed. The 3DE demonstrates an unexpectedly high catalytic activity towards the HER (-0.46 V vs. SCE) upon the 1000th cycle, such potential is the closest observed to the desired value of platinum at (-0.25 V vs. SCE). We subsequently suggest that 3D printing of graphene-based conductive filaments allows for the simple fabrication of energy storage devices with bespoke and conceptual designs to be realised.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Down
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rowley-Neale
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Chester, Thornton Science Park, Pool Lane, Ince, Chester CH2 4NU, UK.
authors.forename: Graham C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Banks