Advancing SOLid-state battery development and production to driVE the future of electromobility

Project Information

SOLVE

Grant agreement ID: 101147094

DOI

10.3030/101147094

EC signature date 5 April 2024

Start date 1 June 2024

End date 31 May 2028

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 8 902 038,75

EU contribution

€ 7 623 420,99

Coordinated by

FUNDACION CIDETEC
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOLVE (Advancing SOLid-state battery development and production to driVE the future of electromobility)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Innovating SSB for a growing EU battery sector

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are a promising technology that will be hugely important in the ever-growing battery market, and the EU has a unique opportunity to rise in the global battery market by becoming an early player in this sector. In this context, the EU-funded SOLVE project, in coordination with a consortium of key industry and academic actors in the battery sector, aims to take advantage of the vast R&D base already present and help scale it up for the arrival of SSB Gen4b mass production. The project will introduce innovations to overcome significant barriers to sector growth along the value chain, pre-develop digital tools and models for SSB design, and improve business models and training.

Objectives

Solid-state batteries (SSB) offer a promising opportunity for the EU to become an early player and enhance its position in the global battery market. Supported by a consortium comprised of key industry and academic players in the battery field, SOLVE aims to capitalize on the extensive R&D base and contribute to the scaling-up efforts required for SSB Gen4b mass production.

To this end, SOLVE will address the most significant barriers hindering sector growth by demonstrating innovations across the main stages of the value chain, optimizing active and inactive materials, and associated processing techniques under industrially relevant conditions (TRL>=6). This will help achieve high-performing, cost-effective, and safe- and sustainable-by-design 20 Ah SSB prototypes and a proof-of-concept 0.25 kWh module based on: (i) thin, defect-free hybrid solid polymer based electrolytes (<=30 μm, >0.5 mS/cm @25-40ºC, >4.7 V); (ii) high loading solid state cathodes (>4.0 mAh/cm2) based on 4V-class cathode active materials (>200 mAh/g), and (iii) ultra-thin Li metal anodes (including cutting-edge lithophilic current collectors for the development of zero Li excess SSB) (<10 µm, >3.000 mAh/g), all of them produced through easily scalable and sustainable R2R processes.

This entire process will be reinforced by the implementation and adaptation of predeveloped digital tools and models to support and accelerate the SSB design, as well as the incorporation of imperative sustainability criteria to promote efficient resource utilization through eco-design principles and the development of innovative recycling processes.

Finally, a robust dissemination, communication and exploitation strategy, including the development of tailor-made training activities and business models, will be established to propel SOLVE’s post-project commercialization and future market success, ultimately contributing to the decarbonization of the transport sector and the widespread adoption of electromobility.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In WP1 (M1-M19), all partners led by CRF worked to define a list of KPIs for SSB cells according to the project’s call target and the requirements of the end-users. The tasks also included the definition of material and testing specifications for the cells to achieve the targeted requirements for the SSB being prepared in SOLVE. WP1 also focused on establishing an eco-safe and sustainable design framework for the development of SSB components and cells. In the final task, ACC identified all potential challenges for the recycling of SOLVE SSB cells and its components and defined several recycling concepts to be tested and validated in the project. In WP1, four out of the five tasks have been completed and closed. Within the reporting period, three deliverables (D1.1 D1.2 and D1.3) have been prepared in WP1.

In WP2 (M1-M27) which is led by PUL, the tasks were divided according to development of different components for the two types of SSB cells (Li-metal and anode-free) based on the specifications defined in WP1. For solid-state cathode development, IKTS worked on the development of CAM coating along with up-scaled production and CID worked on developing optimization of cathode formulation. In anode development, PUL along with TAU worked on optimizing and development of materials such as Li-metal and Li-alloy films for LiM SSB. OSS along with TAU and PUL worked on the development of lithiophilic current collectors for anode-free SSBs. Finally in electrolyte development, POLITO with the help of ARK, worked on the development of hybrid solid polymer electrolyte (HSPE) which would able compatible with both high-loading cathode and Li-metal/anode-free anode materials. Within the reporting period, one deliverable (D2.1) was prepared in WP2.

In WP3 (M7-M48) which is led by ARK, the tasks focused on the up-scaling of different cell components for the two types of SSB cells (Li-metal and anode-free) based on the material developments from in WP2. The main goal of this work-package is to supply scaled-up quantities of materials for cell development and assembly in WP4. CID worked on the development and upscaling of cathode formulations on pilot production line with slurry based wet processing. CEA on the other hand, focused on producing cathode via dry extrusion processing. PUL was focused on the upscale of LiM anodes with optimal configuration. In turn, ARK with support of POLITO worked on the upscale and manufacturing of the developed HSPE.

In WP4 (M13-M48) led by SAFT, the activity in this work package has been mainly focused on execution of Task 4.1 related to the development of LiM cells. CID and the rest of involved partners dedicated their efforts of the optimization of the cell assembly process and understanding limitations of the solid state batteries based on materials and components developed within WP2 and WP3.

In WP5 (M16-M48) which is led by CID, initial efforts were dedicated to the allocation of the cell prototypes testing matrix to specific tests in the framework of Task 5.1.

In WP6 (M1-M48) led by CEA, all efforts have been focused on an attempt to generate understanding in order to provide guidance for optimizing the overall project both solid state battery systems. This have been done though leveraging of the predeveloped SSB-PROTEO™ (CID) tool and modelling of (i) solid state cathode microstructure, (ii) lithiophilic current collector, and (iii) HSPE composition optimization. Within the reporting period, one deliverable (D6.1) was prepared in WP6.

In WP7 (M1-M48) which is led by TEN, the launch phase of the project and associated communication actions has been successfully completed. In addition, identification of the various projects and initiatives to be involved in has been successfully completed. Also, the exploitation and IPR strategy has been updated and detailed according to feedback of all consortium members. Within the reporting period, five deliverables (D7.1 D7.2 D7.3 D7.6 and D7.7) were prepared in WP7.

In WP8 (M1-M48) led by CID as project coordinator, all administrative, financial and technical management affairs have been properly addressed to assure correct execution of the project. Regular meetings (general assemblies, work package leader board meeting, teleconferences), communications channels (e-mail, Teams, Sharepoint etc.) and an effective information flow within the Consortium have been established by the coordinator (CID).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

It is too early to estimate whether SOLVE has generatede results beyond the state of the art.