Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SAFELiMOVE (advanced all Solid stAte saFE LIthium Metal technology tOwards Vehicle Electrification)
Período documentado: 2023-01-01 hasta 2023-12-31
Energy generation and storage is a key technology in the modern world. Batteries have been identified by the EU as a key technology to aid the transition to low-carbon economy. Europe's future battery cell business is crucial as many European nations make plans to phase out the internal combustion engine over the next two decades. The European Commission proposed a 30% reduction in CO2 emission of vehicles by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. The plan, which will progressively tighten existing CO2 limits, features incentives for automakers to shift to EVs.
However, the technological and commercial competitiveness of battery cells is one of the main challenges to overcome if millions of EVs are to be launched in the near to mid-term.
In this context, SAFELiMOVE will develop a new lithium metal (LiM) battery cell technology based on a safe, reliable, and high performing solid-state electrolyte, gaining a competitive advantage over the worldwide competition (mainly Asian). This will strengthen the EU as a technological and manufacturing leader in batteries. In addition, the implementation of this initiative will lead to the achievement of other complementary objectives, among which we can mention:
1) Development of a battery with high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities up to 2 times higher than the ones found in SoA (450Wh/kg and 1200Wh/L versus 240Wh/kg and 600Wh/L).
2) Development of a battery easily adaptable to operate at room temperature (versus 70°C for a commercial battery pack using LiM) by the incorporation of a highly conductive hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte, able to cover the typical EV operating conditions.
3) Identification of a safe technology based on all-solid-state concept which allows working with high specific capacity LiM anode decreasing the risk of side reactions, instabilities and fire derived from the use of conventional liquid electrolytes.
4) Encourage a sustainable technology based on the decreased dependency of critical raw materials and free of graphite (LiM anode).
5) Increase the competitive cost compared to current technologies, which will result from combining innovative, highly performant materials with efficient and cost-effective cell design.
6) Development of new technology for scalable processing of all solid-state batteries.
7) Development of a battery technology that allows meeting the requirements of driving autonomy, cycle life, charge time and power at discharge required by EV users.
SAFELiMOVE has been focused on 3 main pillars: i) advance materials development; ii) interfaces analysis and optimization; and iii) solid-state technology scalability towards several Ah prototypes. In spite of the ambitious targets of the project, the joint effort of the consortium has allowed fulfilling all the milestones and reaching 1 Ah prototypes with a gravimetric and volumetric energy density of 350Wh/kg and 680Wh/L, respectively. In addition, the technology has been scaled up to 3Ah prototypes that have been integrated into a 24V module.
However, the technological and commercial competitiveness of battery cells is one of the main challenges to overcome if millions of EVs are to be launched in the near to mid-term.
In this context, SAFELiMOVE will develop a new lithium metal (LiM) battery cell technology based on a safe, reliable, and high performing solid-state electrolyte, gaining a competitive advantage over the worldwide competition (mainly Asian). This will strengthen the EU as a technological and manufacturing leader in batteries. In addition, the implementation of this initiative will lead to the achievement of other complementary objectives, among which we can mention:
1) Development of a battery with high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities up to 2 times higher than the ones found in SoA (450Wh/kg and 1200Wh/L versus 240Wh/kg and 600Wh/L).
2) Development of a battery easily adaptable to operate at room temperature (versus 70°C for a commercial battery pack using LiM) by the incorporation of a highly conductive hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte, able to cover the typical EV operating conditions.
3) Identification of a safe technology based on all-solid-state concept which allows working with high specific capacity LiM anode decreasing the risk of side reactions, instabilities and fire derived from the use of conventional liquid electrolytes.
4) Encourage a sustainable technology based on the decreased dependency of critical raw materials and free of graphite (LiM anode).
5) Increase the competitive cost compared to current technologies, which will result from combining innovative, highly performant materials with efficient and cost-effective cell design.
6) Development of new technology for scalable processing of all solid-state batteries.
7) Development of a battery technology that allows meeting the requirements of driving autonomy, cycle life, charge time and power at discharge required by EV users.
SAFELiMOVE has been focused on 3 main pillars: i) advance materials development; ii) interfaces analysis and optimization; and iii) solid-state technology scalability towards several Ah prototypes. In spite of the ambitious targets of the project, the joint effort of the consortium has allowed fulfilling all the milestones and reaching 1 Ah prototypes with a gravimetric and volumetric energy density of 350Wh/kg and 680Wh/L, respectively. In addition, the technology has been scaled up to 3Ah prototypes that have been integrated into a 24V module.
To achieve SAFELiMOVE’s targets, specifications required for the cell format design were defined at the beginning of the project based on the estimations of key cell parameters such as volumetric and gravimetric energy densities. Starting from the requirements for the final cell used in the battery-based electric vehicles (BEVs), the design of different cells formats, namely 10Ah and 1Ah pouch cells, were defined.
Additionally, the development of a set of advanced battery materials was one of the core activities within the SAFELiMOVE project. The individual material properties already define the potential of the cell in terms of energy density and cycling performance. However, what is even more important is the interaction of the materials with each other in the complex environment of a battery cell. Within SAFELiMOVE project the material development has been done in three steps (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3), and the testing of each material generation has allowed to finely tune the design of the upcoming one. In this way, after the development and delivery of Level 1 materials, a depth study of the different inter- and intra-interfaces was done and the subsequent material levels were designed accordingly to overcome the identified shortage.
From the cell perspective, two generations of SAFELiMOVE 1 Ah pouch cells have been manufactured using Level 2 and Level 3 materials reaching an energy density of 350 Wh/kg and 680 Wh/L. In addition, SAFELiMOVE technology has been scaled-up to 3 Ah cell format allowing as well the design of a 24 V module.
SAFELiMOVE has contributed to produce advances at material level by developing thick and high loading solid electrodes with high energy, a novel bilayer electrolyte approach enabling better compatibility at both positive and negative electrode interfaces, and a free-standing ultrathin lithium metal. Moreover, the project has paved the way for the scale up production of solid-state batteries, identifying the main challenges of the technology, and showing the urgent need of joining the efforts between academy and industry to understand and tackle the needs for a mass production from the early stage of material design.
Finally, as part of the dissemination activities, SAFELiMOVE has released 7 newsletters, participated in more than 20 conferences, published 5 publications in high impact journals and organized a workshop - “Innovation & Networking Days on All-Solid-State Battery Technologies”- jointly with other projects granted under the same call. Regarding the identified key exploitable results (KERs), they can be grouped into 4 main blocks: 1) Hardware products, comprising materials developed within the project which could be further exploited by industrial partners; 2) Cell design and cell components manufacturing including products and know-how generated in SAFELiMOVE; 3) Know-how around cell assembly and interface management; and 4) Know-how and software products related to modelling of cells and component behavior.
Additionally, the development of a set of advanced battery materials was one of the core activities within the SAFELiMOVE project. The individual material properties already define the potential of the cell in terms of energy density and cycling performance. However, what is even more important is the interaction of the materials with each other in the complex environment of a battery cell. Within SAFELiMOVE project the material development has been done in three steps (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3), and the testing of each material generation has allowed to finely tune the design of the upcoming one. In this way, after the development and delivery of Level 1 materials, a depth study of the different inter- and intra-interfaces was done and the subsequent material levels were designed accordingly to overcome the identified shortage.
From the cell perspective, two generations of SAFELiMOVE 1 Ah pouch cells have been manufactured using Level 2 and Level 3 materials reaching an energy density of 350 Wh/kg and 680 Wh/L. In addition, SAFELiMOVE technology has been scaled-up to 3 Ah cell format allowing as well the design of a 24 V module.
SAFELiMOVE has contributed to produce advances at material level by developing thick and high loading solid electrodes with high energy, a novel bilayer electrolyte approach enabling better compatibility at both positive and negative electrode interfaces, and a free-standing ultrathin lithium metal. Moreover, the project has paved the way for the scale up production of solid-state batteries, identifying the main challenges of the technology, and showing the urgent need of joining the efforts between academy and industry to understand and tackle the needs for a mass production from the early stage of material design.
Finally, as part of the dissemination activities, SAFELiMOVE has released 7 newsletters, participated in more than 20 conferences, published 5 publications in high impact journals and organized a workshop - “Innovation & Networking Days on All-Solid-State Battery Technologies”- jointly with other projects granted under the same call. Regarding the identified key exploitable results (KERs), they can be grouped into 4 main blocks: 1) Hardware products, comprising materials developed within the project which could be further exploited by industrial partners; 2) Cell design and cell components manufacturing including products and know-how generated in SAFELiMOVE; 3) Know-how around cell assembly and interface management; and 4) Know-how and software products related to modelling of cells and component behavior.
Currently, the battery market is dominated by conventional Li-ion technology, where a graphitized material as negative electrode, a lithium transition metal oxide as positive electrode, and a carbonate-based liquid solution as electrolyte are employed. However, the need of higher energy density batteries has attracted much interest in the use of materials with higher capacity [e.g. lithium metal, LiM (3860mAh g–1) vs. graphite (372mAh g–1)]; and at the same time, avoid the use of flammable organic solvents due to their severe safety issues.
On this regard, SAFELiMOVE has gone one-step further beyond the state of the art and is tackling above mentioned issues by the development of a safe hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte with high electrochemical stability allowing the deployment of Ni-rich NMC (high voltage and high energy density) cathode, combined with high specific capacity LiM anode.
In addition, other expected results and impacts are:
1) Proven safety and cost reduction (<100€/kWh) thanks to the developed solid-state technology.
2) Allow the EU battery industry to differentiate itself from the competitors and create a new market whereby the price is determined by the added value of the new solid-state batteries.
3) Cover the full range of modelling competences starting from ionic transport modelling until battery module design, filling the missing gap related to solid state battery technology.
On this regard, SAFELiMOVE has gone one-step further beyond the state of the art and is tackling above mentioned issues by the development of a safe hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte with high electrochemical stability allowing the deployment of Ni-rich NMC (high voltage and high energy density) cathode, combined with high specific capacity LiM anode.
In addition, other expected results and impacts are:
1) Proven safety and cost reduction (<100€/kWh) thanks to the developed solid-state technology.
2) Allow the EU battery industry to differentiate itself from the competitors and create a new market whereby the price is determined by the added value of the new solid-state batteries.
3) Cover the full range of modelling competences starting from ionic transport modelling until battery module design, filling the missing gap related to solid state battery technology.