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Below is an example of 3D printing technology applied to batteries, but it isn't hard to see that the same technology that is used in solar cells and display screen fabrication could be adapted to batteries that would be built in layers. There are several promising technologies that hold promise to increase battery capacity and /or lower weight that will have profound changes on the semi device industry and how they can be applied in numerous areas. Combining them with super capacitors will have especially dramatic changes to transportation. Some batteries will even become smart with battery management control systems either built in or as a separate device. It will be interesting to see how far semi fabrication processes are taken into the world of batteries.
Tanj, I was thinking about the semi technology that goes into solar cells and displays. Large, thin surfaces with real precision. I think very thin multi layer batteries might be the solution.
Tanj, wouldn't many of the technologies and manufacuturing processes used in semi fabrication be able to be used in the fabrication of batteries? It may be used in different ways, but the numerous ways of manipulating materials at the nanotech level might prove useful and offer entirely new ways of structuring batteries and even solar?
Some concepts like self assembly might be used cheaply enough for broad area or volume fill. But each layer in even older process nodes is typically $25 per 300mm wafer, which is 0.6% of a square meter. It would need to be a process with exceptional catalytic leverage to create a battery of reasonable economics.
I think mostly what you get is people with deep understanding of materials and clever tricks to play. Some of which may help with batteries.
Tanj, could a triple junction solar be made cheaply with CVD process or a battery with many layers. I consider current solar cell construction and semi/nanotech process. I'm sure there is a significant overlap of technologies. Any thoughts or comments on this view would be appreciated. I feel both solar, batteries and super caps will advance from technology pulled from different parts of the semi/nanotech process, such as making the wafer itself, such as SOI technology for making the wafer.
Solar panels are made with thin film deposition processes, especially those with non-silicon or polySi. They have processes which operate roll-to-roll on a continuous substrate. For batteries and supercaps you need a lot more area so the process is usually based on something porous for the most dense forms, but there are exceptions. Elecctrolytics are essentially a thin film planar chemistry, but I believe the charge field extends into the electrolyte so the number of charges is not limited to the number of surface sites. As I said earlier, the material understanding can benefit all parties, but the goals are divergent. It is a bit like the overlap between making motorbikes and making earthmovers...
