Shorter drying time in battery production

Research Shorter drying time in battery production

2024-04-15 From Lina Demmel | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendor

In a research project at RWTH Aachen, it was possible to significantly reduce the drying time in battery production. The laser technology used also consumes less energy.

As part of the IDEEL research project, project partners from industry and research are developing a laser-based drying process for a more climate-friendly and economical series production of lithium-ion batteries.(Image: Fraunhofer ILT) — As part of the IDEEL research project, project partners from industry and research are developing a laser-based drying process for a more climate-friendly and economical series production of lithium-ion batteries.
(Image: Fraunhofer ILT)

The "Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components" (PEM) department at RWTH Aachen University (Germany) has reportedly managed to reduce the drying time for LFP cathodes and graphite anodes of lithium-ion batteries by more than 60%. Several partners have developed a new laser process for this purpose in the IDEEL research project, which also significantly reduces energy consumption.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) has been able to double the web speed for coating and drying in a continuous process to five meters per minute as part of the funded project. At the same time, the space requirement for the manufacturing step has been reduced.

CATL was the number one battery manufacturer for electric vehicles last year. The supplier was able to defend its large lead over the competition. (Image:CATL)

Technically and economically viable

"Laser drying in the production of lithium-ion batteries can be implemented technically and economically viable on an industrial scale," is convinced PEM director Achim Kampker.

In the project, work is also being done on the materials used. The partners are currently developing silicon-containing anodes at the MEET battery research center of the University of Münster (Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology) to increase the performance of the batteries. In close collaboration with the researchers at the PEM chair and at the Fraunhofer-ILT, the new developments will then be tested for their compatibility with the laser drying process and adjustments will be made if necessary.

Surveys by project partner Fraunhofer Research Facility for Battery Cell Production (FFB) among users from industry and research are also expected to continuously provide new data on current requirements for drying processes and enable practice-oriented development work.

Background Project IDEEL

As part of the research project "Implementation of Laser Drying Processes for Economical & Ecological Lithium-Ion Battery Production" (IDEEL), project partners from industry and research have been developing a laser-based drying process for more economical series production of lithium-ion batteries since October 2021. By the planned end of the project in September 2024, among other things, work is to be done to scale the drying process to up to 30 meters per minute.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.