Fraunhofer IWS and Technische Universität Dresden have continuously advanced this laser structuring process over the past years. The focus is now increasingly on the demand to improve the processing speed of DLIP systems and to reduce their form factor. This is exactly the aim of the project “Next-Gen-3DBat”, in which Fraunhofer IWS and other industrial partners are cooperating under the leadership of the project management organization Jülich. By means of 3D laser structuring of cell components, researchers want to optimize the performance and capacity of batteries.
 

Lightning-fast structures for current conducting foils

Fraunhofer IWS is transferring its patented laser interference patterning process to the roll-to-roll principle. The new system is designed to continuously unwind and structure current conductor foils from rolls. Compared to cycle processes, the goal here is to shorten processing times. The project partners expect throughputs of around one square meter per minute. In addition, the coils commonly used in industry can be further processed. A prototype is operational, and an improved system is under construction. Fraunhofer IWS is also pursuing another innovative approach: the laser beam is optimized by a combination of several beam shaping methods to produce a high aspect ratio and a uniform interference pattern on the current conductor foil. This significantly increases the area processed with each ultrashort pulse.