Europe’s battery industry faces significant challenges following high-profile bankruptcies of major producers and intensifying competition from China. As global demand for battery technology grows alongside the transition from fossil fuels to electric power, European companies are exploring advanced manufacturing techniques at the nanometer scale to gain competitive advantage.
LeydenJar, a Dutch technology firm based in Eindhoven, has developed a plasma deposition technique to create ultra-thin silicon anodes that resist cracking during battery operation. The company reports that this innovation can improve battery life, charging speed, and energy density by up to 50 percent. The firm expects to begin commercial-scale production at the end of 2026, after a decade-long development process. Chief Executive Christian Rood emphasizes that Eindhoven’s established semiconductor industry ecosystem provides crucial advantages in translating laboratory discoveries into industrial-scale manufacturing.
Another Dutch company, Powall, is developing atomic layer deposition equipment to apply nanometer-scale coatings to battery powder materials. The process allows manufacturers to enhance the durability and performance of battery materials that might otherwise be too fragile for commercial use. CEO Roderik Colen notes that the precise and flexible coating technique can slow battery degradation and enable new high-capacity materials to reach market viability.
Neither company manufactures complete batteries; instead, both focus on specialized components within the battery supply chain. Alexander Brown, an analyst at the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies, notes that securing advanced technological positions in the supply chain could provide Europe with high-margin opportunities. However, he cautions that China continues developing domestic alternatives to reduce dependence on non-Chinese technology providers, creating ongoing competitive pressure for European innovators.
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