## 1 Introduction  
Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have become the predominant energy storage systems being used in portable devices and electric vehicles [1], as they possess a high energy and power density [2]. Modern energy storage solutions require enhanced performance characteristics. Tailored battery electrodes, which are capable of interlocking on a micrometer scale have been observed to have a positive impact on cell characteristics at higher charging and discharging rates [3, 4]. This effect even increases as the area loading of the electrode rises [5], as is required for high energy applications. There are only limited possibilities for fabricating three-dimensional geometries in conventional electrode production [6, 7]. Slot die or doctor blade processing are typical techniques [2]. Novel approaches are being pursued with additive manufacturing (AM) technologies due to the unique properties, such as design freedom and multi-material processing [8, 9]. In particular, droplet-based technologies yield a high potential for fabricating structures in the low micrometer range [9]. Droplet-based technologies include the different types of inkjet printing (IJP), common ones, such as drop-on-demand IJP, but also burgeoning ones, such as electrohydrodynamic jetting [10, 11], as well as processes that are based on different physical principles, such as electrospinning [12]. However, these processes have only been qualified for a limited amount of materials yet [9]. At the same time, these droplet-based processes place challenging requirements on the dispersion to be printed. A homogeneous dispersion and high component stability must be ensured [13, 14]. It is also necessary to adjust the properties of the dispersion to the nozzle geometry of the print head to avoid nozzle clogging and ensure the formation and deposition of stable droplets [15]. The particle size distribution is one very important parameter of the dispersion, which must not exceed a certain limit value. This value depends on the nozzle diameter, which, in the case of common print heads, is generally around \(50\,\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro m}\)[16]. [PERSON] [17] defined a limit value for the particle diameter of \(1/20\) of the nozzle diameter. [PERSON] et al. [18] specified a threshold value of \(1/10\). [PERSON] et al. [13] stated that the particle diameter should be at least 20 to 50 times smaller than the nozzle diameter. This means that the particle size is restricted to a range of \(1\,\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro m}\) to \(5\,\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro m}\). The trend towards new manufacturing processes is accompanied by an increasing aqueous electrode processing, rather than processing based on N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). This leads to reduced costs and an improved environmental impact, since NMP has been found to be hazardous, teratogenic, and subchronic [19; 20; 21]. According to [PERSON] et al. [22], the transition from NMP to water results in a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle. However, the low initial stability of the majority of active materials and conductive additives in an aqueous medium remains a challenge [23; 24]. Organic electrode components, in particular, graphite and carbon black (CB), display low stability in water-based formulations. However, this effect is mitigated by the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which is the most common binder material used in aqueous dispersions. CMC acts as a thickener and, thus, enhances the stability of the dispersion components in water [25]. Nevertheless, stability can be further improved using additives. Indeed, this is indispensable to ensure good printability. Because the requirements placed on stability in conventional electrode processing are less stringent, the effect of additives on dispersion stability has not yet been subjected to thorough study. [PERSON] et al. [26] investigated the stability of graphite in aqueous formulations with the aim of qualifying innovative heat transfer fluids.