Advancing laser technology for sustainable energy storage

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of batteries, as well as an examination of the development of new electrode architectures. In particular, it considers the implications of these developments for sustainability and production efficiency. Laser processing has been successfully developed for the structuring of thick-film electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. In comparison to pouch cells with conventional electrodes, lithium-ion batteries with 3D electrodes demonstrate superior capacity retention for high-power operation, a notable reduction in lithium plating, significantly enhanced fast charging, and an extended cycle life. Furthermore, roll-to-roll machine concepts for process upscaling have been implemented using high-power ultrafast lasers, which enable damage-free structuring of thick-film electrodes with a large footprint.