AM Batteries, Zeon partner to develop dry battery electrode with novel binders

AM Batteries will be working with Tokyo-based Zeon Corp. (Zeon) to develop dry battery electrode (DBE) manufacturing with an innovative and novel binder. Through its investment arm, Zeon Ventures, Zeon invested in AM Batteries in December 2022. As part of this deal, Zeon worked closely with AM Batteries to support the commercialization of the company's electrode manufacturing solution for lithium-ion batteries.

In battery manufacturing, the electrode process mixes a large amount of active materials and small amounts of conductive carbon and binder before coating on a current collector foil. The small amount of binder in this mixture serves as the glue that holds the active materials to the foil. Today, more than 99% of batteries are developed through the conventional wet-coating method, and the binders available in the market are augmented for this process.

AM Batteries' 'powder to electrode' method cuts the drying and solvent recovery steps, creating a more energy efficient and low-cost process. To eliminate the need for the wet-coating process, AM Batteries is building an ecosystem well-suited for the needs to develop batteries through the dry process at every level of the supply chain. By working with Zeon, AM Batteries is optimizing the dry electrode performance with a novel binder at a lower cost compared to the traditional wet-coating process.

"AM Batteries has been at the forefront of dry battery electrode manufacturing and is creating a more energy-efficient, low-cost, and lower-carbon footprint method for electrode manufacturing," says Lie Shi, CEO of AM Batteries. "We are thrilled to be working with Zeon to further create an ecosystem that is optimized for the dry process which will continue to become a critical part of the future of battery manufacturing."

AM Batteries commitment to building a dry battery ecosystem will play a crucial role for OEMs, cell manufacturers, and the US battery manufacturing ecosystem who will be able to benefit from the lower cost and lower carbon footprint that is capable through the dry process.