Development of Ultrathick Laser Ablation for Ultrathick Electrode Processing

The proposal aims to improve the electrochemical power performance of NMC based generation 3b batteries through the development of ultra-thick electrodes.

This will be done through the following objectives:1.) Increased power performance in ultra-thick-film electrodes through the development of 3D electrode architectures2.) Correlation of lithium-ion diffusion characteristics with 3D electrode architectures and related electrochemical performances through simple modeling via Penetration Depth Model (PDM)3.) Establishment of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) as complementary methods for identification of lithium-diffusion pathways in 3D electrodes4.) Realization of optimized 3D electrode architectures for anodes and cathodes prepared with environmentally friendly water-based slurries.This will be done through a multi-discipline approach that involves the following techniques and principles: laser based ablation, ablated materials recycling, water based formulation, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Penetration Depth Model.

Laser ablation will be used to fabricate 3D microstructures in ultra-thick NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide) based electrodes to increase the electrode porosity and help attain optimum cell power density of upto 209 Wh/kg at 2C cycling.

The optimization of the 3D ablation patterns will be done through the correlating the electrode's power performance with its diffusion coefficient (determined via NMR imaging), electrode parameters and effective porosity via the PDM.

Water based slurry formulation and ablated materials recycling will be done in conjunction to decrease production cost and allow laser ablation processing for electrodes closer to ""demonstration pilot level"" (TRL 5-6).

Upon success of the project, NMC based generation 3b batteries can be realized for electric vehicle applications and we could reach on of the goals stated in Horizon 2021's Work Program.