Partnership to develop dry battery electrode coating expands

Dürr Systems AG and LiCAP Technologies Inc. are working together to revolutionize the production of battery cells, traditionally reliant on wet coating, with the sustainable Activated Dry Electrode technology. The partnership now includes the Cellforce Group GmbH, marking the next step in the development of dry electrode coating.

Dürr had announced its partnership with U.S. coating expert LiCAP Technologies last year, alongside the acquisition of the French mechanical engineering company Ingecal. This move highlighted Dürr’s goal to offer dry electrode coating solutions in addition to the established wet coating process.

The expanded collaboration with Cellforce, a subsidiary of sports car manufacturer Porsche, focuses on integrating LiCAP's patented Activated Dry Electrode technology into Cellforce’s battery production line. Combined with Dürr's expertise in electrode coating, this marks a significant step toward an innovative overall approach to industrial-scale dry electrode coating.

LiCAP's Activated Dry Electrode technology is pivotal, improving battery performance while minimizing environmental impact. By eliminating toxic solvents and energy-intensive drying ovens, it significantly reduces energy consumption, shortens process times, and reduces CO₂ emissions by roughly one ton per 10kWh of electrode capacity produced.

Cellforce recently licensed LiCAP's Activated Dry Electrode technology, marking an important milestone in the potential scaling up of the process. Dürr has already commissioned a gigawatt-scale proof-of-concept cathode line in Chassieu, France. "By collaborating with LiCAP, Dürr is broadening its dry coating solutions to support customers like Cellforce in adopting this innovative dry electrode production process," says Bernhard Bruhn, vice president Global Business LIB.