Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

3D Printing Plasmonic-Enhanced Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Cathodes for High-Energy Li–S Microbatteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02204-w
Yu Liu
State Key Lab of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Penghao Fu
State Key Lab of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Jieshan Qiu
College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, People’s Republic of China
Zhiyu Wang
State Key Lab of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Key Lab for Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Zhiyu Wang

zywang@dlut.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 353

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has fueled the demand for high-energy, compact microbatteries capable of powering energy-demanding IoT devices in small, flexible formats. Li–S batteries offer a promising solution but suffer from more intense polysulfide (LiPS) shuttling in the limited volume of microbatteries. Here, we achieved a high-energy quasi-solid-state Li–S microbattery by employing 3D-printed hierarchically structured sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (3D-HSPAN) cathodes with plasmonic enhancement. The direct ink writing technique produces shape-customizable 3D-HSPAN cathodes with precise architectural engineering, ultra-high mass loading up to 37.1 mg cm−2, and greatly improved ionic transport. Plasmonic MXene is harnessed to further boost LiPS-free redox conversion through synergistic photothermal effect and hot-carrier injection under near-infrared irradiation. Paired with a LiNO3 sustained-release carbonate-based gel polymer electrolyte, such quasi-solid-state Li–S microbatteries deliver high areal capacities over 18.1 mAh cm−2 and exceptional areal energy density reaching 30.7 mWh cm−2. Their versatility in flexible, transparent, and shape-customizable formats is demonstrated for wearable electronics and low-temperature operation. This work establishes a framework for uniting additive manufacturing, high-energy redox chemistry, and light-harvesting strategies to advance energy solutions.


Highlights:
1 The DIW technique fabricates shape-customizable 3D-printed hierarchically structured sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (3D-HSPAN) cathodes with precisely controlled scaffolds and ultra-high mass loading up to 37.1 mg cm−2.
2 Plasmonic MXene further regulates the redox kinetics of solid-state sulfur chemistry for 3D-HSPAN cathode via synergistic photothermal effect and hot-carrier injection.
3 The quasi-solid-state Li–S microbattery delivers an exceptional areal capacity of 18.1 mAh cm−2 and a high areal energy density of 30.7 mWh cm−2.

Keywords

Quasi-solid-state battery Li–S microbattery Plasmonic enhancement
Liu, Yu, Penghao Fu, Jieshan Qiu, and Zhiyu Wang. 2026. “3D Printing Plasmonic-Enhanced Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Cathodes for High-Energy Li–S Microbatteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (May):353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02204-w.
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