An all-printed 3D-Zn/Fe3O4 paper battery.

Graphical abstract Highlights • A simple, low cost, and lightweight 3D origami-battery on paper was developed. • The battery was fabricated using printed wax and active electrocatalytic materials. • The 3D-structure contained two screen printed Zn/Fe 3 O 4 batteries in series that were activated with 6 M KOH electrolyte. Abstract A simple, low cost, and lightweight three-dimensional (3D) primary alkaline Zn/Fe 3 O 4 origami-battery fabricated from Whatman 1 paper was developed. The battery was created using printed wax to define the hydrophobic and hydrophilic barriers and active electrocatalytic materials for fabricating the electrodes. The boat-shaped 3D-battery consisted of two screen-printed Zn/Fe 3 O 4 batteries connected in series that were activated with a small volume of aqueous KOH solution. The metallic electrodes were first characterized outside the folded battery using electrochemical techniques. Subsequently, the electrodes and separator were assembled together in a triangle-shaped battery resembling the main structure of the boat-shaped 3D-device and this triangle-shaped battery was further optimized. The addition of water triggered the activation of the 3D battery delivering a maximum current and power of 7 mA and 3 mW, respectively. The 3D-Zn/Fe 3 O 4 -battery displayed an OCP of 2.2 V and a maximum current and power of 22 mA and 7.5 mW, respectively, in the presence of 6 M KOH electrolyte. These results demonstrate the potential of 3D origami-based structures and Zn/Fe 3 O 4 batteries as an alternative low cost energy source to power portable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]