Advances and Future Challenges in Printed Batteries

There is an increasing interest in thin and flexible energy storage devices to meet modern society′s needs for applications such as radio frequency sensing, interactive packaging, and other consumer products. Printed batteries comply with these requirements and are an excellent alternative to conventional batteries for many applications. Flexible and microbatteries are also included in the area of printed batteries when fabricated using printing technologies. The main characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, developments, and printing techniques of printed batteries are presented and discussed in this Review. The state‐of‐the‐art takes into account both the research and industrial levels. On the academic level, the research progress of printed batteries is divided into lithium‐ion and Zn–manganese dioxide batteries and other battery types, with emphasis on the different materials for anode, cathode, and separator as well as in the battery design. With respect to the industrial state‐of‐the‐art, materials, device formulations, and manufacturing techniques are presented. Finally, the prospects and challenges of printed batteries are discussed. How to print energy: Printed batteries are an excellent alternative to conventional batteries for specific applications. This Review presents and discusses the main characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, developments, printing techniques, and state‐of‐the‐art for printed batteries. The state‐of‐the‐art takes into account research and industrial levels. Research progress of printed batteries is divided in lithium‐ion, Zn–manganese dioxide, and other printed battery types.