Abstract
The miniaturization of technologies such as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and advancements in nanoelectronics are the main driving factors in the design and development of nanobatteries. Specifically, solid-state nanobatteries are promising candidates for such applications due to their high energy density, safer operation, enhanced thermal and electrochemical stability, and denser design. There are still challenges with the difficult processes for manufacturing and cycling control, and there is limited research and development on solid-state nanosized batteries, but several studies and testing—at the laboratory scale—are available on this type of nanobatteries. Until now, different techniques have existed for the fabrication of nanosized batteries. The earliest nanosized batteries were synthesized by first depositing layers with pulsed laser deposition (PLD) or Radio-Frequency (RF)-sputtering and then carving them to a nanosized structure using a focused ion beam (FIB). The other method included real-time transmission electron microscopy (TEM) construction and observations of batteries based mainly on nanowires. This particular type of nanobattery was more extensively studied for various ions as Li, Na, K. In addition, other techniques such as creating nanobattery arrays inside porous structures, multishell heterostructure nanotubes, and atomic layer deposited structures have also been investigated. This chapter covers the nanobatteries fabricated by the techniques mentioned above. The nanobatteries’ reaction mechanisms, materials, catalyst and environment effect, performance, and other specifications are discussed for each case. In addition, nanobattery modeling and interfacial problems of batteries at the nanoscale are also briefly overviewed in this chapter.