Spray-On Batteries Could Reshape Energy Storage

A traditional lithium ion battery has a jelly role construction (left) while the Rice battery technique uses paints for the active components which can be sprayed onto a surface. Credit: Rice University

The performance of the batteries is comparable with today's lithium-ion batteries and the capacity of experimental batteries was close to predictions, which suggests that the process could be adapted for hand-held spray cans, according to Rice.

But the paper points out one significant limitation to the idea of buying spray cans of lithium cobalt oxide at the hardware store for a do-it-yourself battery. Lithium ion battery components are sensitive to air and moisture which means producing spray-on batteries directly on outdoor without costly equipment would be dangerous.

Still, because the spray-on technique could be used with industrial spray guns and doesn't require exotic materials, the research could conceivably be commercialized if a useful application can be found. In addition to improving on basic battery performance—charge cycles, capacity, safety—the costs need to be estimated as well. 

batteries, solar, battery materials

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