US-based mixer manufacturer Resodyn Acoustic Mixers has outlined how its resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) technology could support dry electrode processing for lithium-ion batteries, as manufacturers look to reduce cost and energy use in cell production.
In a technical update published on 21 April, the company said RAM offers a solvent-free route to blending electrode materials—aligning with wider industry efforts to move away from conventional slurry-based processing, which relies on solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).
Dry electrode manufacturing eliminates liquid solvents and associated drying steps, cutting both energy consumption and process complexity, while enabling thicker electrodes and improved sustainability.
Resodyn said its approach uses low-frequency, high-intensity acoustic energy to mix powders directly within a container, removing the need for blades or impellers. This produces uniform, three-dimensional mixing while minimising shear forces that can damage sensitive materials such as active particles or binders.
Acoustic mixing is a bladeless process
The company claims this bladeless process is particularly suited to dry electrode preparation, where homogeneous distribution of active materials, conductive additives and binders is critical to electrochemical performance.
RAM also enables high-solids or fully dry formulations to be processed more efficiently than conventional mixing technologies, with reported reductions in mixing times from hours to minutes in some battery-related applications.
Resodyn argues that these characteristics could help address key bottlenecks in scaling dry electrode production, including achieving consistent material dispersion and maintaining particle integrity during processing.
The company added that RAM systems can be scaled from laboratory to production environments while maintaining repeatability, an important consideration as battery manufacturers seek to industrialise next-generation electrode processes.
Dry electrode technology is widely seen as a promising route to lower-cost and more sustainable lithium-ion battery manufacturing, but challenges remain around process control, uniformity and large-scale implementation.
Resodyn’s latest update positions acoustic mixing as a potential enabling technology in this transition, although the company’s claims are based on its own process data and will require validation at industrial scale.
Photo: a Resodyn Acoustic Mixers LabRAM II product shot © Resodyn
