Starting in 2025, Blackstone Technology will begin bringing 3D printed sodium-ion batteries to market. We are working in a leading role with a German industry and research consortium.
At the production site in Döbeln, we will invest €32 million in a pilot plant and extensive developments. At the same time, we are developing the upscaling of sodium-based solid-state electrolytes on a ton scale. We will also produce these on site from 2025. Our development project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection with a total of around €24 million (subject to the grant decision becoming legally valid).
With Blackstone Thick Layer Technology © up to.
More energy density
less waste
Less manufacturing costs
less investment costs
The next generation of batteries
Sodium-ion technology represents the next generation of our already market-leading 3D printed batteries. Their chemical system is comparable in parts with lithium-ion cells. However, a significant advantage of sodium batteries is that raw materials can be obtained much more easily and in a more environmentally friendly way using comparable technology. The availability of sodium is several times higher than that of lithium, and the price is significantly lower. In addition, the raw material does not have to be imported from outside Europe, as is the case with lithium.
The construction of a solid-state battery cell not only increases the energy density, but also improves many safety aspects of the battery. The prototype production of sodium batteries is designed in such a way that a wide variety of active materials can be used. Product-specific adjustments to the battery at cell level can thus be made quickly and cost-effectively. The printing process developed by Blackstone plays a decisive role in this process and allows volumetric optimization in addition to geometric adaptation. The first generation of sodium-ion batteries from Blackstone Technology AG can therefore usefully replace established energy storage systems.
Seamless integration of sodium technology into existing production structures
We can seamlessly transfer our current experience in printing lithium-ion battery electrodes to the production of sodium-ion cells. This laysthe foundation for the subsequent series production of solid-state sodium-ion batteries in 2025. Our goal is to print complete solid-state battery cells at high speed, thus achieving unprecedented flexibility in shape and performance with the same machinery. The use of a cyber-physical system from Blackstone Technology also increases productivity and quality with the help of artificial intelligence.
Our consortium partners in this project
The 3D printed solid-state batteries produced in our project will be installed in an electric bus of the Berlin-based company Eurabus in order to validly demonstrate their performance in realistic test series. In addition, the Zeiss company contributes its extensive expertise in metrology and microscopy. The Fraunhofer Institutes IFAM, IKTS, IST, and the Institute of Particle Technology at TU Braunschweig will again work on process validation, process development, recycling, safety, and economic-ecological life cycle assessment.
Eurabus Ltd.
Founded in 2015, EURABUS GmbH was previously a subsidiary of EURACOM Group GmbH, a special vehicle manufacturer and bus supplier active on the market for 25 years. Recently, Eurabus GmbH merged with Causis Group London. The Causis Group finances projects worldwide to convert fossil-fueled bus fleets to “zero emission”.
Carl Zeiss Microscopy and Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology
The two companies form the IQR (Industrial Quality & Research) strategic unit within the Zeiss Group. IQR develops, produces and distributes tactile and optical system solutions for dimensional measurement tasks as well as microscopic applications.
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research IFAM
Fraunhofer IFAM is a materials science and manufacturing research institute focusing on metallic and polymer materials. The development of safe, reliable and durable solid-state batteries in combination with different printing technologies is a central component of the research work.
Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
In the business unit “Energy”, Fraunhofer IKTS offers innovative components, modules and complete systems for energy technology, which are developed, built, simulatively optimized and tested on the basis of ceramic materials and technologies. At its field office in Forchheim, Fraunhofer IKTS has established a preparative and cross-scale multimodal analytical workflow that allows safe and artifact-free microscopy. On this basis, optimization and further development of next-generation solid-state batteries will be made possible. As part of the Labs@Location program of Fa. Zeiss, IKTS and Zeiss have jointly developed processes in advance, which will be used and further sharpened within the project.
Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST
The Fraunhofer IST conducts intensive research and development in the fields of material synthesis and functionalization, surface treatment and modification, coating manufacture and application, coating characterization and surface analysis, as well as in the area of production technology.
Institute for Particle Technology (iPAT) of the TU Braunschweig
In the field of battery process engineering, iPAT is researching the systematic production of tailored lithium-ion and solid-state battery electrodes on the basis of in-depth process and particle engineering expertise. The aim of the work is to investigate the performance-effect relationships between the production process, the resulting electrode/battery structure and the performance as a basis for the development and economical production of new generations of batteries.