Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SUBLIME (Solid state sUlfide Based LI-MEtal batteries for EV applications)
Reporting period: 2021-11-01 to 2023-04-30
Wide global deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) is necessary to reduce transport related emissions, as transport is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more than two thirds of transport-related GHG emissions are from road transport.
SUBLIME’s overall aim is to significantly increase EV adoption by taking on the technical challenges that are presented by the consumer needs – especially the reduction in costs of EVs, increasing their capabilities regarding long distance traveling and fast charging.
The technical objectives are to specify clear criteria and protocols for the testing of the small (40mAh) and large (10Ah) cells and define future targets for the battery cells in battery electric vehicles for 2030; to develop and optimize the materials to be used in the cells; To develop sulfide electrolytes for the various cell components and scale up. Achieve ionic conductivity above 1mS/cm for high energy cell and > 5mS/cm for high power cell, and ensure stability together with the chosen cathode material and implementation into the all solid state cell. Develop and scale-up cathode materials with surface coating enabling the use of sulfide electrolyte with a capacity >210mAh/g and high voltage (> 4.2V) with physicochemical properties adapted for high energy and high power cell Develop and scale-up different lithium metal protection coating & processing techniques to avoid dendrites for high energy and high charge rate cells
For safety reasons, decrease reactivity of sulfide material with humid air so that H2S generated will be less than 10 ppm/kg/m3 in standard dry room (dew point at -40°C) in order to safely process, assess and optimize the cell components to develop sulfide-based cells (up to 40 mAh).
SUBLIME’s overall aim is to significantly increase EV adoption by taking on the technical challenges that are presented by the consumer needs – especially the reduction in costs of EVs, increasing their capabilities regarding long distance traveling and fast charging.
The technical objectives are to specify clear criteria and protocols for the testing of the small (40mAh) and large (10Ah) cells and define future targets for the battery cells in battery electric vehicles for 2030; to develop and optimize the materials to be used in the cells; To develop sulfide electrolytes for the various cell components and scale up. Achieve ionic conductivity above 1mS/cm for high energy cell and > 5mS/cm for high power cell, and ensure stability together with the chosen cathode material and implementation into the all solid state cell. Develop and scale-up cathode materials with surface coating enabling the use of sulfide electrolyte with a capacity >210mAh/g and high voltage (> 4.2V) with physicochemical properties adapted for high energy and high power cell Develop and scale-up different lithium metal protection coating & processing techniques to avoid dendrites for high energy and high charge rate cells
For safety reasons, decrease reactivity of sulfide material with humid air so that H2S generated will be less than 10 ppm/kg/m3 in standard dry room (dew point at -40°C) in order to safely process, assess and optimize the cell components to develop sulfide-based cells (up to 40 mAh).
SUBLIME has reached now 5 Milestones (Requirements regarding performance, cost, safety, safe handling and testing, Labscale, the definition of the recycling path, and the formulation/process of the positive electrode.)
The delivery of sulfide material on 1kg scale to the partners has taken place, as well as the delivery of the optimized cathode for the Primary pathway.
Furthermore, results on the outcome of the different protective strategies on Lithium metal have been obtained. Due to complex requirements of sulfide-based solid state electrolyte technology large scale manufacturing we focus for the majority of the cell testing activities on 1Ah scale cells.
These intermediate results (however delayed by a few months) now guides the project towards its finalization.
The delivery of sulfide material on 1kg scale to the partners has taken place, as well as the delivery of the optimized cathode for the Primary pathway.
Furthermore, results on the outcome of the different protective strategies on Lithium metal have been obtained. Due to complex requirements of sulfide-based solid state electrolyte technology large scale manufacturing we focus for the majority of the cell testing activities on 1Ah scale cells.
These intermediate results (however delayed by a few months) now guides the project towards its finalization.
Conventional batteries are facing limitations in terms of safety, energy density and performances. Solid-state (Gen-4b) battery technology is required to realize high penetration and acceptance by the end users of electric vehicles (EVs), but poses major processing and manufacturing challenges. In addition, the cell chemistry is not yet fully defined and several materials are in competition to be successfully integrated in the solid-state battery. There is a need for integrated optimization in order to take into consideration the inter-dependencies between material, process and equipment. SUBLIME addresses these aspects in a competitive approach that integrates new chemistries, materials and processes that facilitate mass production of solid-state batteries for the future. SUBLIME brings together academic and industrial parties who are leaders in the battery sector, facilitating a continuous approach from material optimization to industrial production and ensure an efficient knowledge transfer. SUBLIME connects some of the most relevant partners, within Europe, from the material development side with highest level of expertise in material (SOL, UMC, CIC and CEA); battery and modelling experts (SAFT, IST, ABEE, AIT and TNO); world class OEMs (CRF, FORD) and engineering service providers (FEV, ABEE) who will work together to solve the most relevant questions in the topic of new cell chemistries with highest market potential.
SUBLIME will bring the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology from TRL 3 to 6. The scale-up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large-volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide-based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range enhancing the power abilities of the car and the fast charging. The battery will be inherently safe and will be able to operate at room temperature; thus facilitating the start of the vehicle in broad operating conditions.
Acknowledging the importance of connecting parallel R&D activities funded on complementary areas, as stated by the EC, SUBLIME have decided to anticipate this alignment already at the proposal stage, aiming at proving the higher potential of synergies between the 3 projects. S-BAT (Solid-state Electric Vehicle batteries) cluster, further elaborated in chapter 2, aims at virtually clustering three independent R&D projects on solid-state battery developments, submitted under the LC-BAT-1-2019 topic. Thanks to synergies across projects, they can jointly achieve a higher level of impact beyond project level, contributing more strongly to the further development and adoption of solid-state batteries in the Electric Vehicle sector. SUBLIME will deliver a roadmap to 2030, also integrating the synergies from the cluster, enabling eventual market entry by a very strong constellation of European partners, to bring about the transition towards electric mobility.
SUBLIME will bring the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology from TRL 3 to 6. The scale-up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large-volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide-based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range enhancing the power abilities of the car and the fast charging. The battery will be inherently safe and will be able to operate at room temperature; thus facilitating the start of the vehicle in broad operating conditions.
Acknowledging the importance of connecting parallel R&D activities funded on complementary areas, as stated by the EC, SUBLIME have decided to anticipate this alignment already at the proposal stage, aiming at proving the higher potential of synergies between the 3 projects. S-BAT (Solid-state Electric Vehicle batteries) cluster, further elaborated in chapter 2, aims at virtually clustering three independent R&D projects on solid-state battery developments, submitted under the LC-BAT-1-2019 topic. Thanks to synergies across projects, they can jointly achieve a higher level of impact beyond project level, contributing more strongly to the further development and adoption of solid-state batteries in the Electric Vehicle sector. SUBLIME will deliver a roadmap to 2030, also integrating the synergies from the cluster, enabling eventual market entry by a very strong constellation of European partners, to bring about the transition towards electric mobility.