Norwegian battery materials developer ZNL Energy and Bonn-based High Performance Battery Technology (HPB) plan to expand their collaboration. The companies have signed a letter of intent for this purpose. ZNL is expected to become a preferred separator supplier for HPB’s planned cell production.
The companies intend to use the ZNL-NPx separator material. Deliveries are currently scheduled to begin in 2028. They are subject to successful product qualification and a binding supply agreement.
Thinner Separator Aims to Increase Energy Density
HPB uses its own inorganic solid-state electrolyte. It is initially introduced into the cell using solid and liquid starting materials before curing. According to ZNL, the non-porous and flame-retardant ZNL-NPx separator is intended to prevent short circuits between the electrodes during the initially liquid phase.
At the same time, the material is significantly thinner than the previously used glass-fiber separator, according to the companies. This is intended to create space for additional electrode pairs without changing the cell volume. HPB and ZNL expect this to increase capacity and provide advantages in series production.
Tests Reach More Than 4,500 Charge Cycles
According to ZNL and HPB, the companies have been testing the combination of their technologies since 2024. The cells have reportedly completed more than 4,500 charge-discharge cycles at room temperature. Testing was conducted at charge and discharge rates of 1C. The companies also report improvements in manufacturability and energy density compared with previously used separator solutions.
HPB plans to scale up industrial production of its solid-state batteries. In the long term, the company is targeting annual production capacity in the multi-GWh range.
Source:
https://www.highperformancebattery.ch/de/pressestimmen/pm-26-08-10.php
