As part of the IDEEL research project (Implementation of Laser Drying Processes for Economical & Ecological Lithium-Ion Battery Production), project partners from industry and research are developing a laser drying process for the more climate-friendly and economical serial production of lithium-ion batteries. Now, for the first time, the process has been successfully scaled up to a coating and drying speed of 5 m/min in a continuous process, proving that industrial implementation is technically possible and economically viable.
At SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, CA, High Power Diode Laser specialist Laserline, Inc. will be showcasing laser solutions for key industrial applications such as the production of electric copper components, semiconductor processing and the drying of lithium-ion batteries. The technology leader in the field of infrared and blue diode lasers has unique systems such as a blue CW laser with 4 kW output power and a blue 200 W pulse laser in its portfolio.
Up until now, battery electrodes have been dried primarily in gas-operated conveyor furnaces. However, a recently developed approach based on diode lasers is noticeably superior to the convective drying process and for the first time makes it possible to produce laser-dried anodes and cathodes in a roll-to-roll process. A white paper by Laserline and staff from the PEM (Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components) group at RWTH Aachen University highlights the advantages of this diode laser-based electrode drying process and outlines the path to more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly battery production.
At the Battery Show 2023 Laserline will present energy-efficient solutions for industrial material processing in the field of electromobility. Key topics include copper welding with blue 3 kW cw diode lasers, brake disc cladding to reduce urban particulate pollution, laser drying processes for economical series manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, and welding applications for sealing battery casings.
In order to counteract the health hazards posed by particulate matter, the EU has for the first time also included dust from braking systems within the new vehicle emission standard, Euro 7. Diode-laser-clad hard coatings enable reliable compliance with all specifications, reducing brake dust with a maximum particle size of PM10 by up to 90 percent. The series-ready cladding process developed by Laserline enables cost-sensitive mass production for all market segments.
Highlights of Laserline’s presence at formnext 2022 include cross-material cladding and additive manufacturing processes through application of blue lasers, and infrared-laser-based hard coatings for wear reduction in brake discs. Those interested can find us at Hall 12, Booth B19.
At EuroBLECH 2022 Laserline will exhibit a broad spectrum of diode-laser-based solutions for industrial volume manufacturing. Key topics at the event will be on hot wire aluminum welding, welding of copper with 3 kW cw blue diode lasers, as well as corrosion and wear-resistant coatings, for example as brake disc claddings to reduce urban particulate emissions.
The Laserline company's presentation at the Laser World of Photonics 2022 focusses on technological innovation. To be presented are the first blue diode laser with 3 kW CW output power and a new high-power-cladding-solution using a 45 kW IR diode laser. The latter was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IWS.
The IDEEL research project, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the Battery 2020 funding program, aims to launch a laser drying process for a more climate-friendly and economical series production of lithium-ion batteries. The results will be incorporated into the Fraunhofer Research Fab Battery Cells (Forschungsfertigung Batteriezelle) in Münster, Germany, which will enable users from both industry and research to test and optimize the series production of new batteries.
Laserline has optimized its portfolio in the high-power blue diode laser segment. In doing so, the company is making important advances in focusing properties. This is because with output powers of up to 800 watts blue lasers will be available with 20 mm-mrad beam quality, while lasers with output powers of up to 1,500 watts will be available with 30 mm-mrad beam quality. These improvements simplify the joining of thin copper contacts as well as welding with scanner optics.
