Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Addionics (Innovative 3D electro-printing method to improve power, capacity and safety of lithium ion-batteries)
Período documentado: 2021-07-01 hasta 2022-06-30
PROBLEM
Approximately 25% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions. Electric Vehicles (EVs) ofer the most likely solution to reducing the environmental impact of transport in the EU, however, their full potential has not been achieved mainly because the performance of current EV battery technologies is simply not comparable with that of petrol/diesel engines. This is largely due to long charging times, insufficient battery capacity for long distance travel, maximum travel distances highly afected by the environmental conditions, limited life span and high cost for customized battery manufacturing. A large amount of investment has been poured into the improvement of the chemistry of EV batteries to overcome these limitations, however, the major limitation can instead be found in the physical architecture of the battery. The 2D architecture of the lithium-ion battery (LiB) severely limits battery performance by restricting electron difusion and reducing the speed and magnitude of energy delivered by the battery. It also imposes a high internal resistance, resulting in major performance limitations and enhanced degradation pathways within the battery. 2D batteries cannot be built thicker to increase capacity, and 2D batteries with large loads suffer from issues with heat dissipation.
SOCIETY IMPACT
Addionics batteries strongly back up the EU’s ambitious transport decarbonisation targets by making mobile energy delivery easy and EV ownership more appealing. This acquires particular significance in urban areas, where air pollutant concentrations are still too high and generally above legal limits. In major European cities, low-emission zones are increasingly coming into force, making low-emission vehicles the only mode of access for personal and commercial transport. In the coming years, an increasing number of initiatives are likely to be introduced as the EU and national governments implement clean air policies. EVs using Addionics batteries will indeed reduce emission of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from road transport while providing for increasing mobility demands. In other fields, the improvements that 3D battery technologies provide will increase the viability of their use, creating new markets and accelerating the EU towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
Furthermore, Addionics batteries will provide environmental benefits due to their longer life in comparison to existing technologies. The longer lifespan of the batteries translates to a reduction of in the materials required to be recycled or disposed of due to battery degradation and replacement over the lifecycle of an EV or other electronic product. The electrodeposition process used to produce the current collectors is also reversible, facilitating the recycling and recovery of materials used to produce the 3D current collectors.
- Manufacturing current collectors for full size pouch cells and manufacturing multilayer pouch cells (2.0 battery prototype). This includes the optimization of the smart current collector, to enable customizable high energy batteries that can be integrated within current EVs.
- Optimization of the manufacturing process for production of current collectors and identification of alternative implementations of the electroprinting technology. Development of a production-like machine for in-house manufacture of current collectors. Initiation of establishment of the international supply chain necessary to scale up production of 3D current collectors. Set up and test a small scale manufacturing line for producing pouch cells incorporating 3D current collectors supplied by Addionics using battery subcontractors.
- Plan and perform validation activities in laboratory conditions and using vehicle powertrain “test-bed” conditions. In-vehicle validation of batteries incorporating 3D current collectors produced with the Addionics process.
Approximately 25% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions. Electric Vehicles (EVs) ofer the most likely solution to reducing the environmental impact of transport in the EU, however, their full potential has not been achieved mainly because the performance of current EV battery technologies is simply not comparable with that of petrol/diesel engines. This is largely due to long charging times, insufficient battery capacity for long distance travel, maximum travel distances highly afected by the environmental conditions, limited life span and high cost for customized battery manufacturing. A large amount of investment has been poured into the improvement of the chemistry of EV batteries to overcome these limitations, however, the major limitation can instead be found in the physical architecture of the battery. The 2D architecture of the lithium-ion battery (LiB) severely limits battery performance by restricting electron difusion and reducing the speed and magnitude of energy delivered by the battery. It also imposes a high internal resistance, resulting in major performance limitations and enhanced degradation pathways within the battery. 2D batteries cannot be built thicker to increase capacity, and 2D batteries with large loads suffer from issues with heat dissipation.
SOCIETY IMPACT
Addionics batteries strongly back up the EU’s ambitious transport decarbonisation targets by making mobile energy delivery easy and EV ownership more appealing. This acquires particular significance in urban areas, where air pollutant concentrations are still too high and generally above legal limits. In major European cities, low-emission zones are increasingly coming into force, making low-emission vehicles the only mode of access for personal and commercial transport. In the coming years, an increasing number of initiatives are likely to be introduced as the EU and national governments implement clean air policies. EVs using Addionics batteries will indeed reduce emission of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from road transport while providing for increasing mobility demands. In other fields, the improvements that 3D battery technologies provide will increase the viability of their use, creating new markets and accelerating the EU towards a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
Furthermore, Addionics batteries will provide environmental benefits due to their longer life in comparison to existing technologies. The longer lifespan of the batteries translates to a reduction of in the materials required to be recycled or disposed of due to battery degradation and replacement over the lifecycle of an EV or other electronic product. The electrodeposition process used to produce the current collectors is also reversible, facilitating the recycling and recovery of materials used to produce the 3D current collectors.
- Manufacturing current collectors for full size pouch cells and manufacturing multilayer pouch cells (2.0 battery prototype). This includes the optimization of the smart current collector, to enable customizable high energy batteries that can be integrated within current EVs.
- Optimization of the manufacturing process for production of current collectors and identification of alternative implementations of the electroprinting technology. Development of a production-like machine for in-house manufacture of current collectors. Initiation of establishment of the international supply chain necessary to scale up production of 3D current collectors. Set up and test a small scale manufacturing line for producing pouch cells incorporating 3D current collectors supplied by Addionics using battery subcontractors.
- Plan and perform validation activities in laboratory conditions and using vehicle powertrain “test-bed” conditions. In-vehicle validation of batteries incorporating 3D current collectors produced with the Addionics process.
Optimization of 3D collector structure: Achieved - A range of collectors have been manufactured using different combinations and integrated into single layer pouch cells.
Optimization of manufacturing pathway for 3D collectors: Achieved - Two different implementations of the core electroprinting technology have been identified.
Optimization of coating, sealing and packaging: Achieved - Stability of different coating slurries to be used to produce anodes and cathodes is being tested.
Production and testing of EV battery pack: In progress - Addionics has started building 5Ah pouch cells that will be shipped to commercial partners for testing and evaluation.
Development of a tool for manufacturing of 3D current collectors: In progress - Electroprinting machine for continuous production of collectors developed, manufactured and put to work.
Set-up of 3D multilayer pouch cell battery manufacturing facility at CMO: In progress - 3D multilayer pouch cell battery manufacturing design ongoing.
Setup of pilot production facilities for current collectors: In progress - Basic facilities for Pilot process set. Machine for such production designed and manufactured.
Production of 3D multilayer pouch cell batteries for commercial validation: Achieved - Addionics has successfully assembled and tested high energy multilayer pouch cells with 2Ah nominal capacity using silicon anodes and 3D electrodes.
Technical validation of batteries containing 3D current collectors in laboratory conditions with commercial partners: In progress - Addioncs has started to carry out initial performance tests of 5Ah high energy multilayer pouch cells with 3D electrodes.
Technical validation in full-scale in-vehicle environment: To be done - More time will be required to do so. Frist the battery pack performance and safety should be validated.
Optimization of manufacturing pathway for 3D collectors: Achieved - Two different implementations of the core electroprinting technology have been identified.
Optimization of coating, sealing and packaging: Achieved - Stability of different coating slurries to be used to produce anodes and cathodes is being tested.
Production and testing of EV battery pack: In progress - Addionics has started building 5Ah pouch cells that will be shipped to commercial partners for testing and evaluation.
Development of a tool for manufacturing of 3D current collectors: In progress - Electroprinting machine for continuous production of collectors developed, manufactured and put to work.
Set-up of 3D multilayer pouch cell battery manufacturing facility at CMO: In progress - 3D multilayer pouch cell battery manufacturing design ongoing.
Setup of pilot production facilities for current collectors: In progress - Basic facilities for Pilot process set. Machine for such production designed and manufactured.
Production of 3D multilayer pouch cell batteries for commercial validation: Achieved - Addionics has successfully assembled and tested high energy multilayer pouch cells with 2Ah nominal capacity using silicon anodes and 3D electrodes.
Technical validation of batteries containing 3D current collectors in laboratory conditions with commercial partners: In progress - Addioncs has started to carry out initial performance tests of 5Ah high energy multilayer pouch cells with 3D electrodes.
Technical validation in full-scale in-vehicle environment: To be done - More time will be required to do so. Frist the battery pack performance and safety should be validated.
Higher capacity. Addionics’ 3D technology yields batteries with greater than 40% higher accessible capacity in comparison to conventional batteries and double the accessible capacity, especially at high speed. Moreover, Addionics batteries can be charged in 50% shorter time than conventional batteries. Decreasing charging time of EV batteries will further facilitate mass market penetration of EVs.
Easy integration within existing production lines. Addionics’ patent pending techniques are easily integrated without requiring any new production lines replacing the production of present current collectors. Addionics’ cost-effective manufacturing method can boost the entire battery industry, eventually contributing to the wider adoption of EVs. Addionics’ solution also remains adaptable to future innovation in separate aspects of battery R&D, such as new chemistries.
Low cost and highly customisable battery production. The unique design of Addionics manufacturing process enables modular scalability and integration of parts to create large area smart electrodes. This enables the production of highly customisable smart current collectors. Batteries with such current collectors can be tailored towards end-user performance and also enable volume scalability thereby reducing costs.
Safe and environmentally friendly batteries. Addionics’ smart current collectors are designed to maximise heat dissipation, lowering chances of overheating. Improved heat dissipation reduces battery degradation, increases safety (by reducing the impact of thermal effects which might lead to explosions), and is more adaptable to different weather, road and speed conditions.
Easy integration within existing production lines. Addionics’ patent pending techniques are easily integrated without requiring any new production lines replacing the production of present current collectors. Addionics’ cost-effective manufacturing method can boost the entire battery industry, eventually contributing to the wider adoption of EVs. Addionics’ solution also remains adaptable to future innovation in separate aspects of battery R&D, such as new chemistries.
Low cost and highly customisable battery production. The unique design of Addionics manufacturing process enables modular scalability and integration of parts to create large area smart electrodes. This enables the production of highly customisable smart current collectors. Batteries with such current collectors can be tailored towards end-user performance and also enable volume scalability thereby reducing costs.
Safe and environmentally friendly batteries. Addionics’ smart current collectors are designed to maximise heat dissipation, lowering chances of overheating. Improved heat dissipation reduces battery degradation, increases safety (by reducing the impact of thermal effects which might lead to explosions), and is more adaptable to different weather, road and speed conditions.