As renewable energy sources gain in relevance, energy storage solutions become increasingly crucial for ensuring reliable and uninterrupted power supply, thereby making battery systems pivotal in accelerating the transition towards sustainable and green energy sources. To meet the rising global demand, continuous advancement of the battery technology is imperative. One optimization pathway lies in the development of sustainable battery materials with improved electrochemical properties, contributing to both environmental and functional advancements. However, innovation must extend beyond material level, and new electrode design approaches for an efficient combination of high power and high energy systems are essential.
The concept of a three-dimensional (3D) battery, which mainly involves an increased exposed electrode surface, has the potential to enhance electrochemical performance beyond that of state-of-the-art flat (2D) electrode designs. Addressing the bottleneck of high power/high energy density systems, the incorporation of micro-structured channels within the composite electrodes creates shorter pathways for lithium-ion diffusion and mitigates strain from volume expansion during electrochemical cycling.
Our focus is the investigation and optimization of 3D electrode architectures generated by laser-processing techniques such as ultrafast laser ablation. The application of ultrafast lasers offers the possibility to process materials while reducing thermal impact and allows the creation of well-designed and controllable electrode surface topographies. The adoption of this concept to conventional electrodes already shown great impact in enhancing the high-rate capability and lifetime of lithium-ion batteries.
Here, we present our contribution within the framework of two ambitious EU Horizon projects: HighSpin and BatWoMan. The HighSpin project aims to develop batteries and modules based on advanced, safe, and sustainable Generation 3b high-voltage spinel LNMO||Si/C materials for various applications, including automotive and aeronautic transport. Similarly, the BatWoMan project focuses on sustainable and cost-efficient battery cell production through the implementation of laser-driven technologies for material modification and structuring. Our research within these projects investigates the impact of laser-texturing on various materials, assessing its influence on electrochemical performance and electrolyte wettability. We explore different electrode architectures and assess the feasibility of upscaling through roll-to-roll (R2R) processing.
In conclusion, our collaborative efforts within these EU projects highlight the significant contribution of ultrafast laser processing to the advancement of battery technology. By optimizing battery performance through laser structuring, we strive to accelerate the transition towards environmentally friendly and sustainable energy solutions.