We present a direct-write, dispenser printing method for additively fabricating solid-state, thick film carbon supercapacitors directly onto any substrate in room temperature, ambient conditions. This proves to be a flexible method for integrating electrochemical energy storage components onto a device and tailoring its performance to a specific application's demands. The capacitors are made using MCMB (mesocarbon microbead) electrode material in a PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) gel binder. The gel is able to encapsulate BMIM+BF4- (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) ionic liquid electrolyte, and effectively forms solid-state films. From both galvanostatic and electrochemical impedance measurements, printed capacitors exhibited an average capacitance of 0.50 mF/cm2. These tools were also used to evaluate the long-term cycle life of the capacitors, their power and energy density relationship, and compare transport properties.

Previous papers described wireless devices (motes) for measuring the temperature of the gas in ventilation ducts from smelting pots, and the heat flux through the pot shells. This paper describes more extensive, longer term measurements of duct temperature carried out on ten pots at a smelter in 2006. Measurements were carried out for 43 days and 1.3 million temperatures were recorded, along with simultaneous real-time measurements of roofline BY concentration. The duct motes were self-powered using thermoelectric generators operating off temperature differences between the duct gasses and the surrounding air. Temperatures measured by the motes reflected all pot-work such as removal of cover panels or opening of end doors. Even after elimination of temperatures during active pot work, significant variations in duct temperature were observed, both from pot-to-pot and from day-to-day on individual pots. The variations in pot duct temperature exhibited a good correlation with roofline HF concentrations.

The potential for the microfabrication of thermoelectric generators has been shown for powering autonomous wireless sensors in and around the human body. Existing bulk fabrication methods (extrusion and dicing) as well as traditional microfabrication methods (sputtering and etching) cannot create structures with the correct size factors and aspect ratios for optimal power generation. As a result, this paper describes a new promising printing method, specifically developed to additively create microscale generators. Early results show that the method is both cost effective and scalable for the mass production of thermoelectric generators to power medical devices.

Fuel cells and batteries have a wide range of applications in transportation, stationary systems, mobile phones and portable devices. Electronic and medical device manufacturers, and ship, submarine, aircraft, space and military industries are continually searching for new innovative FC and battery systems. The number of battery- and fuel-cell-powered electronic devices in new applications is expected to increase greatly in the next decade.Rechargeable batteries and fuel cells are extensively studied for their use as stationary power sources in electric vehicles (EVs) and in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). These will increase fuel efficiency and reduce the consumption of hydrocarbon-based fuels, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. Fuel cells, in particular, have a high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and could one day replace, partly, fossil-fuel-based power plants and also combustion engines in the transportation sector. Biomass-based liquid and gaseous fuels are being studied for their use in fuel cells.Present-day fuel cells and batteries have their limitations. These include material deterioration problems, operating temperatures, energy and power output, and their short life. Batteries and fuel cells are specific in their uses and one type does not fit all purposes.

Microfabrication of on-chip solid state electrochemical cells has provided a robust challenge to industry for the past decade. Previous efforts include RF Sputtering, screen-printing, and laser printing. All have merit in the laboratory but have proven difficult to scale due a combination of equipment cost and proper isolation from water and oxygen. We present a promising method for printing additively all structures necessary for a working lithium polymer battery that is both small enough to fit in a compact glovebox, yet scaleable for industrial production.

provides, intheory, adequate capacity forlowdutycycle applications. Microfabrication ofon-chip solid state Previous generation solid-polymer electrolytes were electrochemical cells hasprovided arobust challenge to basedonPEOstructures, wherelithium migration occurs industry forthepastdecade. Previous efforts include RF through thecomplimentary mechanisms ofchain hopping Sputtering, screen-printing, andlaser printing. Allhave through viscous dragandchainmotion.Thisproved merit inthelaboratory buthaveproven difficult toscale problematic belowtheglass transition temperature Tgof dueacombination ofequipment costandproper isolation PEOasthechainmotionisessentially negligible (4), fromwater andoxygen. We present apromising method leaving onlyviscous dragasthedominant mechanism. forprinting additively all structures necessary fora Thisisreflected intheoverall conductivity asafunction working lithium polymer battery that isbothsmall oftemperature forPEO:at25'Citisroughly 10-7 Scm-1 enough tofit inacompact glovebox, yetscaleable for while just abovetheTgat70'Citisontheorder of10-4 S industrial production. cm1.

Advances in wireless sensor networks, or "smart-dust", are minimizing the amount of space available for power generation and energy storage. Recent commercial devices are on the order of 10 cm and research prototypes have been demonstrated at sizes of 10 mm. The devices require [1,2] sleep currents on the order of 100 μA and an active current draw of 10 to 30 mA, with duty cycles under 1%. Thus, when the required current draw is applied to a hypothetical cell of an area of 1 cm, active current densities can be on the order of 100 A/m.