Project description
Better lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles
The EU-funded SiGNE project aims to develop advanced lithium-ion battery technology with higher energy density, optimised chemistry and faster charging time compared to state of the art. To achieve their goals, researchers will use a certain amount of silicon in the anode and electrically connect it to the graphite material. Nanowires will improve silicon’s beneficial properties by increasing the amount of available surface area in contact with the electrolyte. A sustainable fibre-based separator will be developed, acting as an isolation layer between the anode and cathode. Researchers will demonstrate the innovative battery at scale to enable its adoption in electric vehicles. Furthermore, they will consider circular economy principles to address second-life applications once the lifespan of the battery comes to an end.
Objective
SiGNE will deliver an advanced lithium-ion battery (LIB) aimed at the High Capacity Approach targeted in this work programme. Specific objectives are to (1) Develop high energy density, safe and manufacturable Lithium ion battery (2) optimise the full-cell chemistry to achieve beyond state of art performance (3) Demonstrate full-cell fast charging capability (4) Show high full-cell cycling efficiency with >80% retentive capacity (5) Demonstrate high sustainability of this new battery technology and the related cost effectiveness through circular economy considerations and 2nd life battery applications built upon demonstrator and (6) Demonstrate high cost-competitiveness, large-scale manufacturability and EV uptake readiness.
SiGNE will achieve these objectives by incorporation of 30% Si as a composite where it is electrically connected to the Graphite in nanowire form. This will realise a volumetric ED of >1000 Wh/L when pre-lithiated and paired with a Ni-rich NCM cathode optimised to deliver 220 mAh/g. This will be further enabled by a specifically designed electrolyte to maximise the voltage window and enable stable SEI formation. A sustainable fibre based separator with superior safety features s in terms of thermal and mechanical stability will be developed. SiGNE will establish the viability of volume manufacturing with production quantities of battery components manufactured by project end. The battery design and production process will be optimised in a continuous improvement process through full cell testing supported by modelling to optimise electrode and cell designs through manufacture as a prismatic cell and prototype testing at by OEMs. (SOH) monitoring across the entire battery lifecycle will optimise safety 2nd use viability. SIGNE will go significantly beyond SoA with recovery of anode, cathode and electrolyte components. In this circular economy approach recovered materials will be returned to the relevant work package to produce new electrodes.
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
- Limerick
Ireland