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Advanced materials and pilot line processes for battery technologies

Investigating three novel concepts of battery cells, this project addresses the critical ageing mechanisms of battery technologies.

Project leader

Dr Matthew Armstrong

Dates

September 2013 to February 2017

Sponsors

European Commission (608931)

Description

Li-ion technologies initiated in the 90s had a fast development pace, thanks mainly to emerging ICTs with more than 20 GWh sold in 2010. Soon, it appeared as a credible technology for electrical vehicles as it could provide average energy densities of about 140 Wh/kg. But major breakthroughs were expected to reach higher storage levels of 250 Wh/kg on battery system level. There is also expectation of an acceptable lifetime of 3000 cycles. This would provide an affordable business plan for car batteries.

MAT4BAT builds an EVs battery strategy on advanced materials and pilot line processes. We will investigate three novel concepts of cells, starting from a state-of-the art combination of cell materials:

  • nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC)
  • carbonate liquid electrolyte
  • graphite

MAT4BAT will address the critical ageing mechanisms associated with this technology. These have direct impacts on product lifetime and safety.

We will deliver two work programs for Battery Assessment and Battery Technologies.

We will develop a framework to define critical charging modalities for a battery system during practical use. We will develop associated testing techniques for relevant functional performance and lifetime assessment.

Within this framework, we will investigate three generations of cells. We will focus on electrolytes which we will steadily transform from Liquid to Gel to All-Solid state electrolytes. This will provide a large gain in cell lifetime and safety. It will prevent degradations and hazards. It will improve energy density with a separator-free cell (all-solid state electrolyte).

We will assess state-of-the-art commercial cells. This will help us to define normal and critical charge/discharge conditions. We will screen out materials increments on coin-cells before benchmarking the most promising materials at full cells level. We will produce prototypes to validate MAT4BAT best technologies against quantified objectives.