Development and implementation of a manipulator for the automated handling of electrodes during the disassembly of lithium-ion pouch cells

Lithium-ion batteries, driven by the increasing production of electric vehicles, have seen a significant rise in demand, especially space efficient pouch cells. Current disassembly methods for individual battery cells are either non-existent or involve a high degree of manual labor. This research aims to develop a manipulator unit to automate the disassembly of lithium-ion pouch cells, enabling efficient recycling of their components. The main challenge lies in handling thin, flexible electrodes that adhere to each other due to the electrolyte. A gripper and hold-down device will be developed and tested to support automated serial disassembly.