NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (NEO), a company that makes low-cost, longer-lasting, and fast-charging batteries for drones, robots, and electronics, unveiled that its subsidiary, NBM Korea Co., has teamed up with Korea Zinc and Taesung. The partnership aims to develop as well as commercialize a new type of copper foil for high-performance batteries used in drones, robots, and small vehicles.
This new technology focuses on improving key battery features like performance and safety for these applications. The composite copper foils they are working on are lighter, cheaper, and safer than regular copper foils. The new foils replace part of the copper with polymer materials, lowering the overall weight of the battery. This change also helps the battery last longer by improving its energy efficiency.
Copper foil is a major part of lithium-ion batteries, aiding carry power from the battery's anode. By using composite copper foil, the battery’s energy density improves, and it can last longer without the battery being damaged during use. This will work well with NEO’s silicon-based battery product, NBMSiDE®, to make even better batteries for drones and robots.
As part of their agreement, NEO, Korea Zinc, and Taesung will share their expertise to speed up the development of this new copper foil technology. They will work on research and testing to optimize the material, build prototypes, and test them in real-world conditions.
In the beginning, Korea Zinc and Taesung will focus on making the copper foil, while NEO will test and create prototypes using the new foil. Once the targets are met, they plan to produce full battery prototypes for use in drones, robots, and small vehicles.
Executive Statement
According to Dr. J.S. Jeoung, SVP of Cell Development & Commercialization, based on the outcomes of this MOU, all parties expect to secure a competitive position within the global composite copper foil market. By combining Korea Zinc's global upstream materials expertise with Taesung's specialized equipment technology, NEO views this strategic partnership as a meaningful advancement toward delivering a differentiated value proposition and expanding its customized solution pipeline within the global drone and robotics markets.
