TNO is spinning off its 3D battery activities under the name LionVolt. LionVolt will accelerate the development of a solid-state battery based on the 3D technology created by TNO over the past five years. This research and development resulted in a proof of concept (PoC) of a fully solid-state 3D thin-film battery in December 2020, showing that it is feasible to produce 3D batteries at a large scale.
TNO is an independent research organization in the Netherlands that focuses on applied science. It conducts contract research, offers consulting services, and grants licenses for patents and specialist software, tests and certifies products and services, and issues an independent evaluation of quality. In addition, it sets up new companies to market innovations.
“With the launch of LionVolt, we aim to make a positive, sustainable impact on the future of batteries by offering unique performance in multiple areas. Because of the electrification of the automotive industry and growth of wireless electronics it is of strategic importance that Europe and the Netherlands have access to their own battery manufacturing technology and become less dependent on Asian players,” said Dr. Ton van Mol, managing director of TNO. “Through the launch of LionVolt, we will contribute to the strength of the European battery ecosystem and to the positioning of the Netherlands as a major player in the battery cell manufacturers landscape.”
The new battery type that LionVolt will be developing is based on 3D technology and solid-state layers. The batteries are made by covering billions of pillars with thin layers of functional material, creating a 3D structure with a very large surface area and very short distances between both battery electrodes. The lithium-ions only have to travel a short distance, reducing charging and discharging times.
