SEI Develops Porous Aluminium for Battery Current Collector

Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) announced on Friday the firm succeeded in development of porous aluminium, named Aluminum-Celmet, by the same production process of SEI’s unique porous nickel Celmet. SEI plans to start a pilot plant of Aluminum-Celmet inside Osaka works within this year and evaluate the product quality in the next six months toward the commercial production.

Aluminum-Celmet is expected to be utilized as current collector of secondary lithium ion battery or capacitors.

Presently aluminium foil is used for positive electrode current collector of secondary lithium ion battery. If alternated with Aluminum-Celmet, the amount of positive active material per unit area can be increased. SEI’s test calculation indicates an automotive battery pack with Aluminum-Celmet represents 1.5-3.0 times battery capacity or one-third to two-thirds battery size compared with a battery pack using aluminium foil.

As for capacitors, aluminium foil is used for both positive and negative electrode current collectors. Alternate with Aluminum-Celmet will contribute to the capacitor’s higher capacity and smaller size.