A tech company based in central China has engineered an ultra-slim copper foil, thinner than a single hair, yet robust enough to support up to 30 kilograms. This technological innovation is poised to revolutionize the country’s electric vehicle (EV) sector, playing a pivotal role in the production of lithium batteries.
Copper foil serves as a crucial component in lithium batteries, functioning as a current collector. The company’s achievement lies in its ability to reduce the thickness of the copper foil, a move that significantly enhances the power density of batteries. This breakthrough promises a range of benefits for electric vehicles, including extended driving range, reduced costs, and a diminished environmental footprint.
By scaling down the thickness of the copper foil from 6 micrometers to 5 micrometers, a remarkable 16 percent decrease in weight is achieved. This reduction translates to a battery with greater capacity, capable of powering vehicles to cover longer distances on a single charge.
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While the production of ultra-thin copper foil presents considerable challenges, the company remains undeterred, expressing a commitment to pushing the boundaries further. Presently, the company has achieved a thickness of 3 micrometers for electrolytic copper foil and is actively pursuing the development of carrier copper foil, with an ambitious target of reaching 1 micrometer in thickness. Such advancements hold the promise of even more potent batteries for electric vehicles in the future.
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The significance of these technological strides has been highlighted by market research from the IMAR Group, projecting that the global copper foil market is anticipated to surpass US dollars 8.7 billion (Ksh1.3 trillion) by the year 2028. This points out the growing importance of innovations in this sector and the potential economic impact they may have on a global scale.
