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Battery, Battery Materials

<2025> Dry-process Electrode Patents Analysis & Technology Trends

 

SNE Research’s newly released report, "<2025> Dry-process Electrode Patents Analysis & Technology Trends", offers a differentiated perspective on the dry electrode process, which is rapidly emerging as an “innovative technology” within the secondary battery industry.

 

Rather than simply presenting dry electrode as a promising technology, this report provides a multi-dimensional analysis that includes practical considerations for implementation, collaboration strategies, and potential applications.

 

     

  • While dry electrode offers compelling benefits such as VOC reduction, shorter processing time, and higher energy density, the fact that leading companies like Tesla have secured key patents makes it difficult for latecomers to introduce the technology without differentiation.
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  • Therefore, when introducing the process or pursuing R&D on new materials, it is essential to technically assess existing patents and establish strategic direction at the design stage.

 

This report aims to reduce uncertainty in business execution by systematically organizing the core elements of related patents and key considerations for industrial application.

 

 

 

Key strengths of this report


 

1. In-depth guide on patent strategy for dry electrode technology

  

  • The report provides a multi-faceted analysis of major international patents covering core technologies in dry electrode processes such as solvent-free manufacturing and PTFE binder fibrillation, offering actionable design directions and collaboration options for latecomers.
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  • OEMs, battery manufacturers, and materials suppliers can use this report to assess practical technical questions such as whether modifying specific process parameters can lead to meaningful differentiation, and what to consider when applying the technology under different binder types, temperatures, or pressures.

 


2. Analysis of over 240 key patent cases and presentation of strategic portfolios

  

  • The report analyzes more than 240 dry electrode-related patents applicable across a wide range of technologies, from supercapacitors to solid-state batteries. Rather than simply listing the patents, it identifies the specific process components addressed by each patent (e.g., binder fibrillation, post-treatment, roll pressing) and clarifies their technical context.
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  • In particular, for high-potential application areas such as high-nickel cathodes, silicon anodes, and solid-state batteries, the report provides a strategic portfolio focused on technical approaches and potential collaboration or utilization paths. This enables not only materials and equipment suppliers but also securities firms and investors to understand the value and commercial applicability of each technology from multiple perspectives.

 


3. Integrated analysis from market, technical, and legal perspectives

 

  • The report goes beyond technical characteristics and advantages of dry electrode processes (such as cost savings and line efficiency improvements) to address global regulatory trends (e.g., VOC reduction), pilot line cases at OEM and battery manufacturers, and benefits in safety and energy density.
  • It also explores key legal and strategic considerations such as patent publication timing and claim evolution, follow-up applications (e.g., CIP, divisional), and counter-strategy development by latecomers. These insights help stakeholders better manage risks and establish forward-looking technology roadmaps.
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  • As a result, OEMs, battery and material companies, investors, and research institutions can tailor their R&D, investment, and business strategies to enhance long-term competitiveness.

 

 

 

Who should read this report?

 

     

  1. Automakers, OEMs, and battery manufacturers
  2.  

    • This report is valuable for companies considering the adoption of dry electrode processes, which offer practical benefits such as reduced CAPEX and OPEX, simplified production lines, and higher energy density. It also provides strategic insights for designing processes while taking into account potential overlap with existing patents.
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  3. Materials and equipment suppliers
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    • For companies supplying binders such as PTFE, PVDF, and FEP, conductive additives like carbon nanotubes and graphene, or equipment such as mixers and roll presses, this report helps identify how technical requirements are linked to patent claims in dry processing. It can also guide efforts to establish meaningful technological differentiation.
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  4. Investment firms and securities companies
  5.  

    • The report supports investment decisions, stock analysis, and partnership or M&A strategies by offering a grounded view of the market potential, patent barriers, and long-term value of dry electrode technologies compared to conventional wet processes.
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  6. Research institutes and R&D organizations
  7.  

    • By understanding pilot project cases in industry and analyzing patent portfolios, researchers can explore follow-up directions for next-generation battery R&D, including solid-state batteries, silicon anodes, and high-nickel cathodes.
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Contents               *210 pages in total

 

 


 

1. Dry Electrode Technology Overview           3

 

1.1 Background of Dry Electrode Development            6

 

1.2 Differences Between Dry and Wet Processes          8

 

1.3 Dry Electrode Manufacturing Process      11

 

 

 

2. Application of PTFE Binder in Dry Electrodes           16

 

2.1 Chemical and Physical Properties of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)               16

 

2.2 Fibrous Mechanism of PTFE       8

 

2.3 Comparison with Conventional PVDF Binders       23

 

 

 

3. Tesla's Dry Electrode Patents Status           28

 

3.1 Maxwell’s Core Dry Process Technology for Ultracapacitors                28

 

3.2 Maxwell Technologies Patent Portfolio   51

 

3.2.1 Search Results for Maxwell Technologies’ Dry Electrode Patents  51

 

3.2.2 Analysis of Maxwell’s Patent Portfolio  52

 

3.2.3 Patent Activity Trends by Country and Year         54

 

3.2.4 Patent Activity Trends by Year and Technical Theme        55

 

3.2.5 Filing Share by Country and Technical Theme   57

 

3.2.5.1 Major Countries Overall (US, CN, EP, JP, KR, PCT)           58

 

3.2.5.2 US               59

 

3.2.5.3 CN               61

 

3.2.5.4 EP                63

 

3.2.5.5 JP                65

 

3.2.5.6 KR                66

 

3.3 Tesla’s Acquisition of Maxwell and Inheritance of Key Patents           67

 

 

 

4. Characteristics and Strengths of Maxwell (Tesla)’s Dry Electrode Patents         72

 

4.1 Technical Configuration of Key Claims    73

 

4.2 Technical Differentiators and Development Constraints    84

 

4.2.1 Impact in Real-World Industrial Applications     87

 

4.3 Examples of Technical Descriptions in Published Patents  88

 

4.4 Transition of Dry Electrodes to Lithium-Ion Batteries          96

 

 

 

5. Dry Process and Its Detailed Factors           99

 

5.1 Powder Mixing (Active Material, Conductive Agent, PTFE) Stage       99

 

5.2 Pre-Pressing Stage        102

 

5.3 Roll Pressing and Lamination    104

 

5.4 Post-Treatment (Thermal Treatment, Additional Calendaring, etc.)                 107

 

5.5 Process Complexity and Quality Control (QC) Factors by Stage         110

 

 

 

6. Analysis of Technical Correlation Between PTFE Properties and Process Parameters   114

 

6.1 Interaction Between PTFE Binder Content and Process Parameters                 115

 

6.2 Effects of Pressure, Temperature, and Electrode Thickness on PTFE Fibrillation          117

 

6.3 Binder Fibrillation Methods and Technical Differentiators 118

 

 

 

7. Maintenance Trends of Maxwell (Tesla) Patent Portfolio and Its Industry Impact            122

 

7.1 Expiration Timeline of Early Maxwell/Tesla Patents (Around 2026)  122

 

7.2 Strategy for Expanding the Technology Portfolio Through Follow-Up Filings                 124

 

7.3 Impact of Patent Expiration        125

 

7.4 Overview of Alive Patents Held by Maxwell/Tesla 128

 

 

 

8. Differentiation Strategies and Countermeasures     165

 

8.1 Industry Response Strategies     165

 

8.1.1 Alternative Binder Materials   167

 

8.1.2 Modifications of Process Parameters    170

 

8.1.3 Introduction of Semi-Dry or Hybrid Processes   172

 

8.1.4 Settlements Through Licensing or Collaboration               173

 

8.1.5 Customized Process Design    174

 

 

 

9. Why Dry Electrode Technology Dominates                177

 

9.1 Foundational Advantage (Significance of Solvent-Free Adoption)   177

 

9.2 Broad Claim Scope and Proven Mass Production Capability              179

 

9.3 Applicability to Next-Generation Batteries (All-Solid-State, Silicon Anode, etc.)           182

 

 

 

Appendix                 186

 

Appendix 1. Analysis of Representative Patent Families            186

 

A 1.1 Representative Patent Families               186

 

A 1.2 Core Inventions          188

 

A 1.3 Examples of Differentiating Patent Claims           190

 

A 1.4 Implications                 192

 

 

Appendix 2. Application of Dry Electrodes to Cathodes and Anodes and Patent Implications         194

 

A 2.1 Cathode Applications (NCM, NCA, LFP)                 194

 

A 2.2 Anode Applications (Graphite, Silicon Composite)             198

 

A 2.3 Comparison of Application Difficulty Between Cathode and Anode              200

 

A 2.4 Conclusion and Outlook          202

 

 

Appendix 3. Expansion of Dry Electrode Technology to All-Solid-State and Next-Gen. Batteries     204

 

A 3.1 Significance of Dry Processing in All-Solid-State Batteries               204

 

A 3.2 Synergy Between Dry Process and Transition from Lithium-Ion to All-Solid-State Batteries  205

 

A 3.3 Conclusion  206

 

Appendix 4. Glossary           207