Transition Metal Dichalcogenide-Based Composites in Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing for Electrochemical Applications-A Review

Robust electrochemical sustainability of tailored high-performance nanocomposites is integral to advanced electrochemical energy conversion and storage (EECS) systems. Functions, such as nanoscale ionic-diffusion distance, electrocatalytic reactions, electrical conductivity, and fluid distribution, of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-based nanostructures have been extensively designed and studied. However, challenges in materials selection, operational scalability, and design flexibility of TMD-incorporated metal-matrix composites (MMCs) consisting of non-noble metallic nanostructures and their originating TMD materials have scarcely been studied. Highlighting the effectiveness of emerging additive manufacturing techniques in sustainable energy supply and storage, laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) can offer a directly added dual-functionality to fabricated complex multimaterial and TMD-incorporated MMC electrocatalytic electrodes. In this review, the characteristics of composite powder feedstock and optimizing process parameters are critically emphasized from another perspective to maintain a balance between mechanical robustness and enhanced electrochemical response. It is demonstrated how factors such as surface roughness, particle shape, and rheological characteristics of TMDs can influence the flowability of composite powder feedstock and the electrochemical performance of L-PBF-processed electrodes. The review further aims to contribute compiled information for use in the rapidly growing global market for advanced energy storage systems, underscoring the transformative potential of L-PBF and TMD-incorporated MMCs in modernizing the EECS components.