LC-BAT-1
CLUSTER
The LC-BAT-1-2019 CLUSTER will work collaboratively in the communication and dissemination of their results, in order to maximize the impact of the next generation of European solid-state batteries for electric vehicles.
International agreements towards less air pollution and CO2 production, such as the Paris Agreement (COP21), and the European Union 2020 and 2050 targets, are pushing towards a rapid implementation of electrification of transport. Electric batteries are currently seen as key technological enablers to allow a rapid growth of the sales and deployment of battery electric vehicles. A battery technology with higher driving range, lower charging time, increased safety, increased sustainability and low-cost manufacturing will accelerate the market introduction of electric vehicles in the world. This understanding is framed by initiatives such as Batteries Europe, the European Battery Alliance, Battery 2030+, and, on a global level, the World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance.
Considering the global competition, the European Union is focusing substantial research efforts to create an improved European battery technology. Under the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020, numerous calls for proposals focus on different aspects of battery research. One of these is the LC-BAT-1-2019 call, which addresses the global interest on solid state batteries as an alternative to ensure higher performance, but also inherently safe batteries.
In addition to SUBLIME, the following projects have been funded by the European Union to work under the LC-BAT-1-2019 call:
The ASTRABAT project aims to design an all-solid-state battery for the next generation Li-ion batteries. The purpose is to deliver a safer and higher energy battery for electrical vehicles. To do so, the project team will work on the development of optimal cell materials, components and architecture, including:
- High specific and retention capacity anode based on new nanostructured composite SiΩC materials.
- High voltage and more economically attractive layered oxide cathode material.
- New hybrid nanostructured inorganic/organic electrolyte combining stability at high voltage and mechanical flexibility.
- Multi-scale characterisation and modelling to design an optimized core architecture of the Li-ion cell
ASTRABAT will address the critical issues of electrolyte/electrode interface. Surface coatings will be specially developed on each inorganic component (anode, cathode and electrolyte) to improve interface chemical stability and reduce capacity fading. It will bring the hybrid inorganic/organic electrolyte up to TRL6 with kilogram scale capacity production. Finally, the project will provide the next generation of cell manufacturing lines, addressing Generation 4a (by 2025) and the cathode for Generation 4b (by 2030).
The project is run by a consortium of 14 partners from 8 European countries led by France’s CEA.
The SOLiDIFY project proposes a unique manufacturing process and solid-electrolyte material to fabricate Lithium-metal solid-state batteries – known as Gen. 4b on the EU battery roadmap. The concept is based on a solid nanocomposite electrolyte or nano-SCE. It is made by a sol-gel reaction which is used advantageously for a liquid-tosolid approach in the fabrication of the composite cathode and the solid-electrolyte separator. The general strategy to reach the target energy density of 1200Wh/L (400Wh/kg) in 20 minutes charging time is:
- enabling the integration of high-energy NMC active materials and
- development of new electrode architectures for high mass loading and enabled by the liquid-to-solid approach. An added imposed challenge is a water-based cell assembly process. To this end, suitable protection of the high-energy NMC powder with ALD thin-film coatings is pursued. Finally, thin lithium foils with protective artificial interphase coatings will be developed for lamination on the nano-SCE separator.
The main goal of SOLiDIFY is to bring the liquid-processed solid-state cell fabrication concept from demonstration in the lab (TRL3) to demonstration of prototypes in pilot line (TRL6), with upscaling of the concept both towards
- the development of manufacturable materials and processes and
- the discovery of full cell assembly schemes with ultimate demonstration of 1Ah pouch cells.
The material research will focus on
- solutions enabling the upscaling process and manufacturability and
- further improvement of cell integration steps to enhance performance.
Manufacturable parameters such cost, environmental impact and recycling will also be handled. The larger scope of the SOLiDIFY project entails the development of a novel and potentially European-lead solid-state battery technology with fully covered EU value chain.
SAFELiMOVE aims to support a change towards safe high energy density batteries for the electric vehicle by the development of:
- High specific capacity, lithium metal anode materials.
- High voltage and high capacity layered oxide cathode materials development, having the advantage of an intrinsic high voltage.
- advanced solid electrolyte with improved ion conductivity at room temperature, replacing the liquid electrolyte and enhancing the intrinsic safety => fewer external safety features required => lower costs of module, pack structures.
- interface adoption for effective Li-transport by surface modification and/or over-coatings.
- knowhow for the development of scale up production of all-solid-state batteries.
The project is run by a consortium of 15 partners from 7 European countries led by CIC energiGUNE.