Laser cutting mechanism and method for manufacture of an electrode

Abstract

Systems and methods of using a laser cutting device to cut an electrode laminate for a battery. The laser cutter may super heat and volatilize the various components of the layers of the electrode stack. The laser cutter may be programmed or otherwise controlled to direct its laser to cut the electrode stack into any shape. Further, as the laser cutter super heats the materials within the layer(s), the material may volatilize or ablate and be removed from the environment with simple vacuum systems, thereby reducing or eliminating metal shards and other contaminants that may be generated through conventional cutting procedures that damage or short-circuit the electrode. This “cauterization” process may also generate a unique pattern or composition of oxides and hydroxides of the electrode that is identifiable through a chemical mapping process to uniquely identify, or “fingerprint”, the electrode based on the chemical make-up of the cut electrode stack.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.