These include roll-to-roll battery electrode coating systems used to dry and structure electrodes. This process increases the surface area of the electrode, thereby improving various performance characteristics of lithium-ion cells such as their energy storage capacity, charging rate, and available power. A coating system of this type will go into operation at the Battery Lab in Aachen toward the end of 2020. The cutting and drilling of battery components is another area in which laser technology could usefully replace conventional production processes.

Battery cells are connected together to form modules, which are in turn connected together to create battery packs. The required electrical contacts are provided by welded copper and aluminum conductors. The laser is the ideal tool for joining these heat-sensitive materials, because it is able to produce reliable weld seams with a low energy input. The resulting direct metal bonds also have a lower electrical resistance than screw connections. Another advantage of laser joining is that the process can be automated and the weld seam quality can be monitored by means of built-in sensors. An automated battery assembly line including a welding machine and robot will be on show as part of the ILT’s “Laser Technology Live” event.

Next-generation batteries
Since 2018, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has been providing funding for the NextGenBat project which aims to strengthen the infrastructure in Aachen and Jülich for research on future battery generations. The existing research infrastructure in North-Rhine Westphalia is being expanded to create optimum conditions for companies in the region to participate in next-generation battery research and development. Alongside Fraunhofer ILT, other partners in this project include RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich.

Have you booked your ticket for AKL’20 – International Laser Technology Congress?
The AKL’20 conference program and registration page can be found at www.lasercongress.org. There is an early-bird discount for everyone who registers by March 4, 2020, at the latest!