Sakuu has produced a 100% dry-printed lithium-ion cell that uses no metal foil current collectors. The cell is built on the company's Kavian manufacturing platform with carbon fiber and polymeric current collector (PCC) technology. Sakuu says the design is lightweight, flexible, and resistant to thermal runaway because each layer is sealed and connected directly, so a puncture dissipates energy slowly instead of causing a fire. The 0.5 Ahr test cell is small, but the manufacturing angle is the bigger story. These PCC cells cannot be made on standard wet-process lines, and Sakuu's dry process is aimed at producing them cost-effectively at scale. If the approach holds up in larger cells, it could lower the cost and weight of batteries for EVs and stationary storage while improving safety.
