M.T. Zhang, K.C. Bo, J.X. Ma *, Y.H. Fu, S. Wang, Z.D. Ma, Y.X. Ma, S.H. Liao, T.L. Chen, C.Y. Li, X. Wang, S.X. Wang * and Z.-S. Wu *

Science China Chemistry, 2025, accepted.

High-performance thick electrodes are regarded as a feasible strategy for enhancing the energy density of lithium-ion bat-teries. However, fast ion transport and long-life cyclability in thick cathode remain significant challenges. Here, we de-veloped a multidirectional-ion-transport Ni-rich thick cathode LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811), which exhibits excellent consecutive layer-by-layer contact and fast ion-flow diffusion, achieving high areal capacity and superior rate capability toward 3D-printed batteries. By a trade-off between appropriate viscosity of electrode inks and high mechanical strength of thick electrodes, a strong-interface-bonding multilayer NCM811 cathode, reaching an electrode thickness of 3 mm and ul-tra-high mass loading of 185 mg cm-2, delivers a record areal capacity of 38.4 mAh cm-2 up to date. The 3D-printed porous frameworks featuring the multidirectional transport of Li ion and superior affinity of electrolyte, exceptionally boost active material utilization and fast electrochemical kinetics of thick electrodes, resulting in a high specific capacity of 208 mAh g-1. Furthermore, the printed electrode has a capacity retention rate of 88% after 150 cycles at 2 C. A 3D-printed full cell composed of NCM811 cathode and graphite anode shows high energy density of 417 Wh kg-1 at electrode level and long-term cyclability. This work provides an effective strategy for fabricating long-lifespan and high-energy-density lith-ium-ion batteries.