DG Innovate has been advancing its work in novel battery and drive technologies through the capabilities of its subsidiary, Deregallera Limited. Located in Caerphilly, South Wales, Deregallera’s research and development (R&D) facilities are equipped with advanced infrastructure, including a Class 100 clean room, a high-voltage test area, and spaces dedicated to battery pack assembly and prototype construction.
The partnership between Deregallera and Exeter University has significantly enhanced the company’s R&D efforts. This collaboration grants Deregallera access to high-performance computer processing and advanced modelling capabilities, enabling it to tackle global projects that demand sophisticated supercomputing resources for solving complex problems.
The Deregallera research facility houses a range of cutting-edge hardware, supporting various stages of R&D technology. Among these are the Picosun R200 atomic layer deposition reactor, which deposits sub-nanometre layers on 200 mm diameter wafers, and the M307 Moorfield thermal evaporator, used for applying metal electrodes to samples. The Phenom Prox scanning electron microscope offers imaging capabilities with sub-10 nm resolution and includes integrated elemental analysis via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Another crucial piece of equipment is the Rigaku Miniflex X-ray diffractometer, which performs phase identification and quantitative analysis of crystalline compounds in powder mixtures. It also supports advanced Rietveld analysis.
For electrochemical characterisation, Deregallera employs the Biologic VSP-300 potentiostat, facilitating various testing methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The in-house developed Deregallera battery cycler is another key tool, designed for cell testing across multiple formats, with more than 60 channels available. Additionally, a dedicated pouch bag manufacturing line allows for the production of demonstrator cells, featuring equipment such as a vacuum mixer, coating machine, hot rolling press, electrode stacking machine, and vacuum sealer. The facility also includes a variety of furnaces, capable of operating under controlled atmospheres with volumes up to 65 litres and temperatures reaching 1200 ºC.
DG Innovate’s collaboration with Exeter University and the sophisticated capabilities of Deregallera’s R&D facilities place the company at the forefront of innovation in battery and drive technologies.
DG Innovate plc (LON:DGI) is an advanced research and development company pioneering sustainable and environmentally considerate improvements to electric mobility and storage, using abundant materials and the best engineering and scientific practices. Deregallera is a subsidiary of DG Innovate.
