“Thanks to this research, we have succeeded in manufacturing current collectors that enable better adhesion between the electrode and the collector, as well as improved performance at high current densities,” stated Miguel Ángel Muñoz, head of research at CIC energiGUNE. Along the same lines, Ainara Rodriguez, head of research at Ceit, affirmed that “in addition to the improved performance of the collectors, we have managed to optimize the laser process for copper texturing at speeds that allow us to implement it industrially in this and many other applications.”
This work is part of the European project Laser4Surf (Laser for the mass production of functionalized metal surfaces), whose main objective was the large-scale use of laser technology to functionalize metal surfaces, specifically titanium, stainless steel, and copper. Thanks to the work carried out by the consortium, these functionalized surfaces have been validated for application in three specific uses: implants, linear encoders, and batteries.

In addition to coordinating the project, Ceit's work has focused on developing functionalization processes for the three aforementioned application areas. As a result of this work, Ceit has developed a software platform that allows end users of laser systems to automatically select the process parameters that yield the desired functionality, without needing in-depth knowledge of the LIPSS generation process. This greatly simplifies the industrial implementation of these processes.
For its part, CIC energiGUNE has participated in the project by validating structured copper surfaces—at the nanoscale—as current collectors for lithium-ion batteries. In this regard, the modification of the current collector surface, compared to previously used models, has resulted in improved adhesion between the electrode and collector and a greater amount of active material per unit area. Furthermore, it has enabled the use of water as a solvent to prepare the electrode without resorting to organic solvents that generate toxic fumes.
Consequently, these improvements have resulted in increased battery stability, allowing for longer use thanks to extended cycle life, and faster battery charging.
Laser4Surf framework has confirmed that nanostructuring results in improved charge-discharge capacity for all electrodes and cell configurations. In fact, the batteries can be charged and discharged faster while maintaining higher current densities.
Furthermore, the full-pouch cell prototype demonstrated greater retention capacity, improving both cycle life and the adhesion and roughness of the current collectors to the electrode material, as improved adhesion increases the number of cycles. Along with
Ceit and CIC energiGUNE , the organizations participating in Laser4Surf were: LASEA, MULTITEL, IRIS, FAGOR AUTOMATION, RESCOLL, and the European Science Communication Institute (ESCI).