Laser-material-interactions between ultrashort pulse lasers and electrodes for lithium-ion batteries during micro-structuring the electrode surface

Laser structuring with ultrashort laser pulses of electrodes for lithium ion batteries is a promising technology to further enhance their application for energy storage in electric vehicles. We investigated the influence of laser parameters, such as average power, pulse repetition frequency and pulse number when processing electrodes of different thicknesses. Using an ultrashort pulse laser, two graphite anodes with a thickness of 136 μm and 248 μm, were structured with a dot pattern and then analyzed, with respect to their shape and size of the created structure units. Whereas the electrodes individually show similar ablation behavior, the higher coating thickness of 248 μm compared to a coating thickness of 136 μm results in deeper hole structures with a lower ablation volume when processed with the same laser parameters. Thus, the objective of creating electrodes with a three-dimensional structure and reducing material loss can be achieved more efficiently with electrodes with a higher coating thickness.