Exhibiting the Advanced Conductive Mesh, a New Structural Electrode Component for Next-Generation Batteries, at the 66th Battery Symposium

「第66回 電池討論会」I-PEXブースのようす

I-PEXは、2025年11月18日（火）から20日（木）に愛知県名古屋市の愛知県産業労働センター（ウインクあいち）で開催された「第66回 電池討論会」の併設展示会に出展しました。

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to visit our booth.

I-PEXのブースでは、コネクタのめっき技術で培った独自の表面処理技術を活かして開発中の二次電池用電極部材「三次元不織布集電体」を展示しました。

「第66回 電池討論会」でのI-PEXの出展内容と、今後の展望についてご紹介します。

Click here for more information about our advanced conductive mesh

The 66th Battery Symposium: A Specialized Academic Conference on Batteries Where Experts Converge

I-PEXブースの展示

The Battery Symposium is an academic and industry exchange event focused on battery technology, including secondary batteries. Researchers, engineers, and manufacturers gather to present the latest research and technological developments in the battery field. Beyond presentations, the event also serves as a hub for industry-academia collaboration and business discussions through corporate exhibitions.

This discussion forum, which brings together numerous battery experts from both Japan and abroad, provides a valuable opportunity to grasp the latest industry trends and forge new partnerships.

I-PEXは、開発中の「三次元不織布集電体」の認知拡大と、電池開発パートナーの獲得を目的に本展示会へ出展しました。電池技術の最前線に立つ専門家たちへ直接アプローチできるこの場を活用し、製品の可能性と技術的な優位性を広くPRしました。

Exhibiting the Advanced Conductive Mesh

Advanced Conductive Mesh (left: copper-metallized product, right: aluminum-metallized product)

New structural materials for next-generation batteries, replacing conventional metal foil.

I-PEXのブースでは、開発中の二次電池用電極部材「三次元不織布集電体」を展示しました。

一般的な二次電池の集電体には、正極にアルミ箔、負極に銅箔が使用されています。「三次元不織布集電体」は、使い捨てマスクなどに用いられている樹脂不織布に、銅やアルミでメタライズ（金属被膜）を施した次世代電池向けの新構造材料です。I-PEXがコネクタ製造を通じて長年培ってきた表面処理技術（めっき技術）を応用することで実現しており、既存の金属箔に代わる電極部材として開発を進めています。

A 3D structure that is lightweight, high in specific surface area, and flexible

Cross-section of advanced conductive mesh

Combining the inherent lightness and high specific surface area of non-woven fabric with highly efficient conductive paths and excellent flexibility, this current collector is being developed to help achieve longer life and greater capacity in next-generation batteries.

The design also introduces a fundamental shift in how active material paste, responsible for lithium-ion exchange during charge and discharge cycles, is applied. Rather than coating the paste onto the surface of the foil, it is infused directly into the voids within the non-woven fabric.  As the active material penetrates and bonds within these voids, the contact surface area increases significantly, offering a novel approach to suppressing interfacial delamination of the electrodes.

Through this structural innovation, we aim to push battery durability and performance even further.

The results of the demonstration using batteries for microdrones were also released

Achieved over 16 minutes of flight time with a micro-drone powered by a battery pack equipped with the advanced conductive mesh

One of the main applications for the advanced conductive mesh is in batteries for micro-drones used in infrastructure inspection. At the exhibition, we also presented the verification results from prototype drone batteries, demonstrating approximately twice the flight time of commercially available battery packs of the same weight. This result attracted significant attention from visitors.

In addition, our exhibition booth included a corner where visitors could actually touch and experience actual samples.  Designed to gice an intuitive feel for the unique texture and structural properties of metal-plated non-woven fabric, this interactive display proved highly effective, drawing enthusiastic responses even for what is, at first glance, an unfamiliar internal component of a secondary battery.

Learn more about micro-drone flight tests here

Reflections on the Exhibition

今回の展示会では、多くの方々にI-PEXのブースへお立ち寄りいただきました。昨年に引き続いての出展となりましたが、来場者数は昨年比で1.5倍以上に増加。大手自動車メーカー、国内外の電池メーカー、大学・研究機関の研究者の方々から、構造の仕組みやサンプル提供にもご興味を持っていただき、当社技術への関心の高まりを今一度実感しました。

Given the nature as an internal battery component, capturing visitors' attention at first glance was a key challenge. Our hands-on displays and the release of empirical data from actual prototypes proved to be the right approach, sparkling meaningful discussions with many experts in the battery and energy fields.

Future Outlook

Through this exhibition, we were able to reaffirm the industry's high expectations and potential for the advanced conductive mesh.

Going forward, we will engage with those who have requested samples through detailed technical discussions and specification reviews, followed by phased sample deliveries. By building technical verification in actual usage environments, we aim to accelerate partnerships with battery development partners.

ご相談・お問い合わせはI-PEXまで

「三次元不織布集電体」は、I-PEXがコネクタ製造で培ってきためっき・表面処理技術と、不織布の三次元構造特性を組み合わせた次世代電池向けの新構造電極部材です。

By filling the internal gaps of current collector with active material, the technology is designed to increase the contact area, suppress interfacial delamination, and ultimately deliver longer battery life and higher capacity. Starting with applications for micro-drones for infrastructure inspection, we are expanding into a broad range of applications.

次世代電池の開発に取り組む皆様、ならびに「三次元不織布集電体」のサンプルご提供やパートナーシップについてご興味をお持ちの方は、ぜひI-PEXまでお気軽にお問い合わせください。

I-PEX株式会社について

I-PEXは、グローバル市場で閃きや驚きという価値を提供する「ものづくりソリューションエキスパート」を意味します。1963年、精密金型メーカーの「第一精工」として誕生。以来、数々の世界初や独自の製品、ソリューションを産み出してきました。現在は「コネクタ」「製造受託（自動車部品及びエレクトロニクス機構部品）」「金型・設備」「MEMSファウンドリ」「エネルギーソリューション」の5つの事業分野を展開。「最・尖端を、世界へ」拡げることで、次代を切り拓く世界のあらゆるお客様とともに、デジタル社会の心躍る価値創造に貢献します。