<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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- Automakers, OEMs, and battery
manufacturers
- 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.
- Materials and equipment suppliers
- 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.
- Investment firms and
securities companies
- 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.
- Research institutes and
R&D organizations
- 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.
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