
The surface roughness and surfacechemistry of the battery foil, the key to better batteries
The project FolieYtan aims to improve the surface properties of the battery foil, also called current collector. The battery foil is the substrate for the slurry which is the active part of the battery. The interaction between the slurry and battery foil can be improved by changing the surface properties of the battery foil. This in turn would affect the battery performance and lifetime of the battery. All technologies that rely on batteries would benefit from improved batteries, thus even small improvements to the battery performance and lifetime have the potential to greatly reduce the environmental impact of today’s society. Additionally, by improving the surface properties, new material in the slurry can become available which today might be limited due to poor adhesion or unwanted reactivity with the battery foil.
This project will focus on lab-scale testing of plasma and laser techniques for modifying the surface structure and chemistry of the battery foil. With the goal to enhance the wettability, adhesion and performance on a button cell battery level. The project will also evaluate the possibility to utilize atmospheric plasma to create nanocoatings and functionalize rolling oil which is a residue from the manufacturing of the battery foil. A possible affect from those strategies is improved corrosion protection which could be a key parameter for adapting to new slurry formulations with poorer adhesion and increased corrosion problems.
When the project ends, the aim is to have identified how different surface modification techniques affect the battery on a lab-scale level. This would be the foundation for the next step where demonstrators on an industrial level would be approached. A scale up project would be used to adapt the surface related techniques to industrial needs and verify the feasibility. Both on an environmental and economical basis.