Researchers Combine Laser and Battery Technologies for Higher Energy Density

EAS Batteries, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and EdgeWave are investigating laser-structured LFP cathodes for lithium-ion circular cells. The three research partners expect this to lead to higher energy density, shorter charging times and longer lifetimes.

Image by ua-electro.com

As part of the three-year "High-E-Life" project, the three partners want to transfer the concepts of laser electrode structuring to large-format winding elements, in particular to circular LFP elements, for the first time. Thus, the project group combines laser and battery technologies. The research project, coordinated by the German battery developer EAS Batteries, has a total volume of 2.1 million euros and is financed with 1.3 million euros on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Relevance: Perforations in the active material of the electrodes shorten the migration paths of ions and, thus, accelerate the process of charging and discharging in a lithium-ion cell. "So-called ion highways can potentially cut the charging time of large-format round LFP cells by half or even by a third," says EAS Batteries. At the same time, due to higher mechanical flexibility, thicker electrodes can be wound, which increases the energy density and, therefore, the capacity of the cell.

Perforation is performed using "a new ultra-short pulse laser that can precisely remove the sensitive active mass without touching the remaining layers." As part of the project, KIIT will investigate laser processes in the production of cells. EdgeWave contributes to laser technology, EAS Batteries to battery production. The specific objective is to develop a cell that outperforms the current EAS cell (MP602030 LFP 50 Ah) and use it in an existing EAS battery system for the marine industry.

EAS, based in Nordhausen, specializes in the development and production of large-format lithium-ion batteries with innovative electrode manufacturing technology. The company's battery solutions are already deployed in Europe, Asia and North America in the aerospace, defense, underwater and marine industries, and more recently in the automotive industry.