Additive manufacturing electrochemistry: An overview of producing bespoke conductive additive manufacturing filaments

Crapnell, RD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8701-3933, Kalinke, C, Silva, LRG ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9718-0292, Stefano, JS ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2838-3555, Williams, RJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-0911, Abarza Munoz, RA, Bonacin, JA, Janegitz, BC and Banks, CE ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0756-9764 (2023) Additive manufacturing electrochemistry: An overview of producing bespoke conductive additive manufacturing filaments. Materials Today, 71. pp. 73-90. ISSN 1369-7021

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Abstract

Additive manufacturing represents a state-of-the-art technology that has been extensively disseminated in both the academic and industrial sectors. This technology enables the cost-effective, simple, and automated production of objects with diverse designs. Moreover, within the academic community, additive manufacturing has provided genuine scientific revolutions, particularly in the field of electrochemistry, due to the accessibility of the Fused Filament Fabrication printing methodology, which utilizes thermoplastic filaments for electrochemical platforms. Additive manufacturing has facilitated the production of conductive components for various applications, including electrochemical sensors, batteries, supercapacitors, and electrical circuits. Within recent years, the scientific community has taken an interest in bespoke filaments that are doped with highly conductive particles, which can be optimized and tailored enabling groups to produce a wide range of filaments with uncountable applications. Thus, the present review article explores the distinct methods of bespoke filament manufacturing, emphasizing its significance in the scientific landscape, and investigating the principal materials utilised in its production, such as thermoplastics, plasticizers, and conductive substances, focusing on electrochemistry applications. Furthermore, all reported additive manufacturing methods will be thoroughly discussed, along with their main advantages and disadvantages. Last, future perspectives will be addressed to guide novel advancements and applications of bespoke filaments for use within electrochemistry.