The energy transition is well underway, and it is being driven by a range of factors, including climate change, environmental concerns, and the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. One of the key technologies that are driving this transition is the battery. Batteries play a critical role in energy storage, which is essential for the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The more renewable energy we can store, the more we can reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources, and the more we can reduce our carbon footprint. At the heart of the battery revolution lies the lithium-ion battery (LiB). While lithium-ion batteries have been widely adopted, they encounter several challenges.
To overcome these challenges, lithium-ion batteries require very thin protective coatings, often referred to as passivation layers, to prevent degradation of the electrodes, which can lead to quick deterioration of the cycle life of the battery. Given the typically high porosity of these electrodes, Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (Spatial ALD) emerges as one of the most effective methods for applying these protective films. Spatial ALD produces films that are inherently uniform and conformal, even at very low thicknesses. This innovation also enables high throughput and highly flexible deposition processes, addressing critical needs in battery manufacturing.
