NoVOC “Ask the expert” series continuing with input on the difference between wet processing and dry processing in battery manufacturing
Have you ever wondered what the difference between wet processing and dry processing in battery manufacturing is?
The quick answer is simple: wet processing uses liquids (like water or organic solvents), while dry processing eliminates liquids, ultimately making electrode production greener and more cost-efficient. But why is that and what more is there to learn?
As part of our series “Ask the NoVOC expert”, our team member Svenja Schreiber at Technische Universität Braunschweig shares how both methods are revolutionizing battery manufacturing!
When making lithium-ion batteries, manufacturers use different methods to create the thin layers that store and move energy. The two main methods are the state-of-the-art wet processing and currently developing dry processing.
State-of-the-art wet processing
In wet processing, the battery materials are mixed with liquids (often harmful solvents) to create a slurry, which is then coated onto metal foils and dried—a process that consumes a lot of energy and factory space.
Innovative dry processing
In contrast, dry processing relies on a solvent-free approach using a different binder system which allows the coating and densification in a single machine. With this method, the entire wet-mixing and drying steps are eliminated from the process chain. Making electrode processing more energy-efficient, less space consuming and more cost-effective.
At the same time, the electrodes have a higher flexibility and allow higher mass loadings (energy densities) without cracks or loss of contact during winding in round cells.
The NoVOC approach
In the NoVOC project, we’re focused on improving both wet and dry processing techniques to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from battery manufacturing.
At TUBS (Technical University of Braunschweig), we’re researching how these VOC-free methods can produce high-performance batteries while reducing environmental impact. By developing safer, more sustainable manufacturing processes, NoVOC is paving the way for the next generation of eco-friendly
batteries.
Want to know more about how binders help batteries work—and how NoVOC is making them cleaner? …then follow us on LinkedIn for recent updates on our project!
