Enhancing lithium-ion battery performance with roll-to-roll compatible flash process technology

A world-first expertise has been developed by introducing a roll-to-roll appropriate flash course of into secondary battery electrode manufacturing, considerably suppressing the efficiency degradation of thick electrodes.

The analysis is published within the journal Small Strategies. The findings current a brand new chance of decreasing battery prices by minimizing inactive supplies and simplifying the manufacturing process whereas growing vitality density and capability, making batteries smaller and lighter.

The Korea Institute of Equipment and Supplies (KIMM) has developed an electrode activation expertise using an ultra-fast, large-area flash course of to mitigate thick electrode degradation. Utilizing the pilot-scale take a look at mattress, its compatibility with roll-to-roll (R2R) processes was efficiently demonstrated.

Thick electrodes supply benefits corresponding to excessive energy densityfewer battery pack layers, a simplified construction, and elevated manufacturing effectivity, resulting in a drastic discount in production costs.

Nonetheless, thick electrodes additionally face challenges, together with elevated resistance to lithium-ion and electron transport and restricted electrolyte penetration, which result in decreased total electrochemical efficiency corresponding to price functionality.

To deal with these points, the analysis staff launched a flashlight irradiation course of on thick electrodes for an instantaneous period of lower than one millisecond. The photothermal response triggered by this course of immediately induces modifications corresponding to binder carbonization, interlayer growth of lively materials (graphite), elevated porosity, and an enlarged electrode-electrolyte interfacial space.

These chemical and structural modifications improve lithium-ion and electron transport whereas enhancing electrolyte penetration, finally suppressing the efficiency degradation of thick electrodes.

By using floor photothermal reactions, this expertise prevents your complete thick electrode, together with the present collector, from extended high-temperature publicity. This minimizes binder decomposition, preserving mechanical sturdiness whereas additionally stopping oxidation-related thermal harm to the present collector.

This expertise is very appropriate with customary roll-to-roll manufacturing processes and is predicted to be expandable to varied electrode supplies, together with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathodes.

Moreover, the analysis staff of KIMM is making use of and evaluating the flash course of within the electrode drying stage. It has been confirmed that the expertise can considerably cut back the vitality consumption and processing time required for electrode drying whereas concurrently inducing electrode activation results.

Just lately, in collaboration with lithium-ion battery tools producers, the staff has been growing mass-production-scale services and conducting course of evaluations.

The principal researcher, Dr. Kyoohee Woo of KIMM acknowledged that since flash-based electrode activation expertise is a post-treatment course of appropriate with roll-to-roll manufacturing, it may be simply built-in into current manufacturing strains and services.

Shifting ahead, the staff goals to reinforce the expertise’s maturity and proceed testing and validation to facilitate its adoption by home lithium-ion battery producers.