Project description
Europe leads the charge in next-generation solid-state lithium battery technology
Sustainable batteries with ultra-high performance and smart functionalities will play a critical role in powering Europe's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. Conventional lithium-ion batteries utilise a liquid electrolyte. Solid-state lithium-ion batteries, or lithium-metal solid-state batteries, use a solid electrolyte and lithium metal as the battery anode. These are garnering increasing attention for their promise of low cost, high performance and enhanced safety, yet they are far from achieving commercial viability. The EU-funded SOLiDIFY project is developing materials and manufacturing processes to bring their novel liquid-processed solid-state fabrication technology to fruition. It will enable successful integration of their solid nanocomposite electrolyte and fabrication of a new generation of lithium-metal solid-state batteries with Europe leading the charge.
Objective
The SOLiDIFY project proposes a unique manufacturing process and solid-electrolyte material to fabricate Lithium-metal solid-state batteries – known as Gen. 4b on the EU battery roadmap. The concept is based on a solid nanocomposite electrolyte or nano-SCE. It is made by a sol-gel reaction which is used advantageously for a liquid-to-solid approach in the fabrication of the composite cathode and the solid-electrolyte separator. The general strategy to reach the target energy density of 1200Wh/L (400Wh/kg) in 20 minutes charging time is: (1) enabling the integration of high-energy NMC active materials and (2) development of new electrode architectures for high mass loading and enabled by the liquid-to-solid approach. An added imposed challenge is a water-based cell assembly process. To this end, suitable protection of the high-energy NMC powder with ALD thin-film coatings is pursued. Finally, thin lithium foils with protective artificial interphase coatings will be developed for lamination on the nano-SCE separator.
The main goal of SOLiDIFY is to bring the liquid-processed solid-state cell fabrication concept from demonstration in the lab (TRL3) to demonstration of prototypes in pilot line (TRL6), with upscaling of the concept both towards (1) the development of manufacturable materials and processes and (2) the discovery of full cell assembly schemes with ultimate demonstration of 1Ah pouch cells. The material research will focus on (1) solutions enabling the upscaling process and manufacturability and (2) further improvement of cell integration steps to enhance performance. Manufacturable parameters such cost, environmental impact and recycling will also be handled. The larger scope of the SOLiDIFY project entails the development of a novel and potentially European-lead solid-state battery technology with fully covered EU value chain.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectric batteries
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
3001 Leuven
Belgium