Blackstone develops and tests additively manufactured solid-state battery prototypes

September 21, 2020

The battery cells produced using additively manufactured electrodes have been successfully tested (Courtesy Blackstone Resources AG)

Blackstone Resources AG, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, reports that it has achieved a series of milestones for its proprietary Additive Manufacturing technology to additively manufacture lithium ion solid-state batteries.

The company explains that it has been investing in the next generation of battery technology through its subsidiary Germany-based Blackstone Technology GmbH. This includes patented Additive Manufacturing techniques and research into the mass production of batteries, which has been shown to offer greater energy density and a higher number of charging cycles.

According to Blackstone Technology, its AM process offers substantial advantages over conventional battery cell design that use liquid electrolytes. These advantages are said to include:

  • Significantly lower costs
  • A higher level of production flexibility when it comes to the format of the cell
  • 20% increase in energy density

In addition, the company states that by using this technology, the amount of materials that do not store energy could be reduced by up to 10% i.e. copper and aluminium. These advantages can be achieved independently of the electrode chemistry.

Having developed and tested this technology, Blackstone Technology states that to achieve the highest efficiency from its AM technology, the company plans to produce additively manufactured solid-state battery cells.

An automated Additive Manufacturing production process could reportedly save up to 70% of the traditional Capex used to produce solid-state batteries. Solid-state batteries are also said to be safer as they do not use flammable liquid electrolytes that are also more harmful to the environment.

The first solid-state battery prototypes developed by Blackstone Technology have already been tested and the company is now developing the AM technology required to additively manufacture these solid-state battery cells for mass production. Following the conclusion of an extensive development contract with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, the first AM prototypes will be tested in Q1 2021. 

Holger Gritzka, CEO of Blackstone Technology GmbH, commented, “Together with the developments we have made in 3D-printing battery technology to date, this development paves the way for the mass production of solid-state battery cells.”

Gritzka added, “In addition to major markets such as the automotive industry, marine applications and new 5G wireless networks would benefit from the advantages that 3D-printed solid-state cells can offer.”

www.blackstoneresources.ch

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Aluminium Additive Manufacturing: How a new generation of alloys will fuel industry growth
  • Shaping a national Additive Manufacturing ecosystem: The strategic growth of metal AM in Türkiye
  • How metal Additive Manufacturing is transforming modern hydraulic systems
  • High-performance product development in the era of computational design: a case study with nTop and NASA
  • The Additive Manufacturing of record-breaking pure copper heatsinks for high-performance computing applications
  • The Additive Manufacturing of tool steels: how non-linear modelling enables precise hardness control

Join 40,000+ other AM professionals – follow us online

Don’t miss a thing – register for our newsletter

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Register now

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
Find suppliers

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap