[Exclusive] SK On Accelerates All-Solid-State Battery Development... Invests in US 3D Printing Company

$25 Million Investment Decision
Collaboration on Development of Dry Electrode Manufacturing Process

SK On has been confirmed to have invested in a Silicon Valley startup to develop solid-state battery technology with a lower risk of fire. The company is focusing on additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology to develop batteries that not only outperform conventional ternary batteries but also offer higher safety with reduced fire risk.

According to industry sources on the 20th, SK On decided to invest $25 million, approximately 33 billion KRW, in the U.S. company Sakuu and contributed $8 million in the first half of the year. Subsequently, the two companies also signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for mass production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Sakuu, founded in 2016 in San Jose, Silicon Valley, California, developed the ‘Kavian’ platform last year, a solid-state battery production technology applying additive manufacturing (3D printing) methods.

This investment is interpreted as a strategic move to innovate the electrode manufacturing process, a core technology in battery production. The two companies are reportedly planning to jointly develop a dry electrode manufacturing process for batteries in the future.

Electrode manufacturing is the process of making the battery’s cathode and anode, which currently mainly uses a wet process. The wet process involves mixing active materials that enhance electrical performance, conductive additives, and binders (metal adhesives) to create a viscous slurry, which is then thinly coated on electrode plates, dried, and compressed.

The dry process is characterized by replacing the active material with solid powder. It does not require a separate drying step, which can reduce production facility investment costs and simplify the manufacturing process. Last month, Tesla equipped its Cybertruck with batteries whose cathodes and anodes were both produced using the dry process.

Lithium metal battery made with 3D printing technology by Sakuu (Photo by Sakuu website)

In particular, the Kavian platform is evaluated as a technology that can achieve more than twice the energy density of existing batteries while using fewer battery materials because it prints directly onto the electrode plates using 3D printing. Additionally, this technology is expected to reduce battery weight by more than 30%.

Recently, as electric vehicle fires have occurred consecutively, social demands for battery safety have increased. Solid-state batteries, which reduce fire risk, are expected to be a solution to this issue. However, due to technical difficulties, commercialization is anticipated to be 3 to 5 years away.

SK On’s recent investment is expected to be an important opportunity to accelerate the commercialization timeline of solid-state batteries through cooperation with Sakuu. A company official explained, "Technological collaboration between the two companies will accelerate innovation in the electric vehicle battery electrode manufacturing process."