ARTISTIC developed an innovative integrated computational platform capable of inverse designing lithium-ion battery (LIB) manufacturing processes. Our platform integrates novel 3D-resolved physics-based mesoscopic models predicting the impact of manufacturing parameters on the electrodes/cells properties. It encompasses stages such as mixing, casting, drying (utilizing Coarse Grain Particle Dynamics), calendering (simulated through a Discrete Element Method), electrolyte filling (via a Lattice Boltzmann Method), formation and electrochemical performance (using a Finite Element Method). These interconnected models ensure that outputs from one step serve as inputs for the subsequent one, capturing the interdependencies between process steps.The platform also employs Machine Learning (ML) techniques to expedite parameterization of these models. The entire physics-based modeling process is rigorously validated against experimental data acquired from our battery manufacturing pilot line. ML techniques have been also used to create surrogate models derived from experimental datasets, synthetic datasets (generated by physics-based models), or hybrid datasets. These surrogate models, integrated into a Bayesian optimizer, predict optimal manufacturing parameter values to optimize different electrode and cell properties. We have demonstrated our platform for several LIB active material chemistries, and we also demonstrated the approach transferability to sodium-ion and solid-state batteries.
The development of the ARTISTIC Online Calculator, integrating our manufacturing models, allows global accessibility for researchers to simulate and analyze the manufacturing process steps through internet browsers (engaging over 1100+ users worldwide by December 2023). Based on ARTISTIC results, we developed Virtual Reality/Mixed Reality serious games to engage and educate students and trainees in battery manufacturing. Prof. A.A. Franco frequently integrates ARTISTIC results in his teaching activities in the Erasmus+ master MESC+ and i-MESC MSc. programmes. He also uses the serious games to present the ARTISTIC results to the general public in science festivals (e.g. Pint of Science). In 2019 he won the French National Prize for Pedagogy Innovation. Since 2020 we organized every year the Manufacturing Battery Days/Webinar Series (2600+ attendees along the 4 years), in which the project members presented their results and recognized researchers were invited to present their battery work. With numerous publications and numerous conference invitations received by Prof. A.A. Franco, ARTISTIC has significantly influenced academia and industry. Prof. Franco secured an ERC PoC Grant for the SMARTISTIC project which integrated part of the ARTISTIC models into a Mixed Reality interface to aid decision-making directly in the field of experimentation. ARTISTIC results have attracted more than 100 expressions of interest from industry, prompting Prof. Franco to assemble a startup co-founding team. This startup will commercialize the ARTISTIC digital tools. This received support from the CNRS INNOVATION RISE programme, an accelerator for startup creation.
