Feasibility Study and Economic Evaluation of Direct Contact Prelithiation of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The increasing need for energy storage across various sectors drives the growing demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Prelithiation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the capacity and cycle life of lithium-ion batteries. This study investigates the technical feasibility and economic viability of a scalable, roll-to-roll prelithiation process. Using an evaluation methodology adapted from literature, a comprehensive feasibility study and economic evaluation were conducted, considering the industrial-scale implementation of the process. The evaluation demonstrates that the direct contact prelithiation process utilizing lithium foil is technically feasible and suitable for industrial application. The economic viability of the process heavily relies on the lithium price, which constitutes a significant cost factor. The direct contact prelithiation process offers substantial benefits in terms of capacity and cycle life, resulting in enhanced cost-effectiveness of prelithiated lithium-ion batteries. The feasibility study and economic evaluation provide valuable insights implementing direct contact prelithiation as a viable strategy to improve lithium-ion battery performance. The findings contribute to advancing battery technology, manufacturing processes, and overall economic efficiency for diverse applications.