Porous carbon nanotube electrodes in 3D printed symmetric supercapacitors with stable electrochemical response

Multi-walled carbon nanotube porous networks offer excellent capacitance and stable electrochemical response in 3D printed symmetric supercapacitors made by fused deposition modelling of conductive thermoset polylactic acid (PLA) current collectors. These electrodes show a stable voltammetric and galvanostatic response with an aqueous KOH electrolyte, without any pretreatment of the graphite-impregnated printed PLA. The printed supercapacitors showed capacitance values of ∼80 F g −1 with a retention of >96 %. • Carbon nanotube networks provide high density of electrical contacts to printed PLA current collectors. • Excellent capacitance and stable electrochemical response in 3D printed symmetric supercapacitors. • Areal coverage of high surface are active material allows a simpler way to improve supercapacitor response.