Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is working with Titomic to advance its Titomic Kinetic Fusion know-how for lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrode manufacturing.
With assist from the Nationwide Science Basis (NSF) Power Storage Engine in Upstate New York Program, the 2 organisations are growing chilly spray–based mostly dry-coating applied sciences.
Titomic’s TKF cold-spray method is claimed to remove the vitality and time-intensive phases by straight depositing electrode powders onto aluminium or copper foils. This, the companions say, might be seamlessly built-in into current roll-to-roll manufacturing traces or tailored for 3D printed electrodes with customised geometries and compositions.
A technical programme structured in 4 phases will search to develop the answer within the lab and chart a pathway into trade. First, a cloth feasibility effort will conduct trials of candidate anode and cathode powders (akin to silicon, LTO, LMO, and LFP) deposited onto foil substrates, with detailed micro- and macro-level characterisation to find out spray parameters. The down-selection & demonstrator part will then develop electrode demonstrators that may meet trade necessities earlier than a pilot-scale system is deployed with a buyer’s LIB roll-to-roll manufacturing line. Lastly, an in depth scalability and value evaluation might be carried out to judge the transition from laboratory demonstrations to large-scale trade functions.
By way of this programme, the companions hope to handle important trade wants for extra sustainable, environment friendly, and scalable electrode manufacturing.
“This deposition breakthrough represents a pivotal second in our enlargement into the clear vitality sector,” stated Jim Simpson, Titomic CEO and Managing Director. “By making use of our confirmed TKF chilly spray know-how to battery electrode manufacturing, Titomic helps to beat long-standing effectivity and sustainability challenges in lithium-ion manufacturing. This improvement not solely advantages our clients but in addition helps the worldwide transition to renewable vitality and electrification.”
“By straight depositing useful electrode supplies by way of chilly spray know-how—with out the necessity for binders, solvents, or drying steps—we’re addressing important inefficiencies in conventional slurry-based LIB manufacturing,” added Prof. Semih Akin and Prof. Nikhil Koratkar, NSF mission PIs from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “Titomic’s devoted chilly spray techniques allow direct and high-throughput deposition of LIB electrodes, serving to to speed up the transition towards renewable vitality adoption and widespread electrification.”
