Blackstone Resources 3D-Prints More Efficient Battery Cells

Founded in 1995, Swiss company Blackstone Resources specializes in battery production, using additive manufacturing to design lithium-ion battery cells with a 20% higher density. Thanks to its patented Thick Layer Technology process, the company intends to develop batteries that are more environmentally friendly, durable and powerful. It has announced that it is ready for mass production which could have a significant impact on the current market.

The use of additive manufacturing in the production of solid batteries can be of particular interest in increasing energy density, reducing the size of the battery in question and its weight, while providing better performance. In fact, this is the challenge that Sakuu launched in May: the company wants to offer owners of an electric car a platform to 3D print the battery of the vehicle in question. While the idea sounds futuristic, the advances are indeed real. The opening of a production line for small series of 3D printed batteries by Blackstone Resources in Germany confirms this trend.

Blackstone Resources uses 3D printing to create more efficient batteries. (Photo Credit : Blackstone Resources)

Blackstone Resources Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Cells

Blackstone Resources relies on a 3D printing process to design LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery cells and uses a cathode material developed by IBU-Tec. This manufacturing method would allow it to achieve an output of 220 Wh / kg, a rather impressive result today when you consider that the most advanced solutions reach figures in the neighborhood of 166 Wh / kg. Blackstone Resources states in its press release: “We are currently starting with LFP and NMC cells, but the technology will be applicable to all cell chemistries. In the future, we also want to print solid state batteries – with solid state technology, the energy density can be increased by 70%, which is remarkable. ”