Project description
Copper coatings enable safer lithium metal batteries
Electric vehicle battery demand is rising rapidly, increasing reliance on critical raw materials such as lithium and graphite that face supply chain and geopolitical risks. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the LUCENT project aims to develop anode-free lithium metal batteries that remove the need for lithium metal and graphite anodes. The project will combine low-cost, scalable thin-film deposition and electrochemical optimisation to engineer patterned silicon oxide coatings on copper current collectors, enabling uniform lithium deposition and crystal formation suppression. Together with advanced characterisation techniques for understanding lithium nucleation and interface stability, LUCENT expects to deliver lower-cost batteries with improved energy-density, durability and safety to sustainably and securely support electric mobility.
Objective
The LUCENT project addresses urgent challenges in next-generation energy storage by developing Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries (AF-LMBs), a promising alternative to conventional Li-ion systems. With global demand for EV batteries projected to increase more than sixfold by 2030, reliance on critical raw materials such as lithium and graphite poses both supply chain and geopolitical risks. LUCENT proposes a novel strategy to overcome these limitations by engineering patterned silicon oxide (SiOx) coatings on copper current collectors, enabling uniform lithium deposition, dendrite suppression, and elimination of Li metal and graphite anodes. This approach aims to deliver high-energy-density pouch cells (≥400 Wh·kg⁻¹), improved cycle life (~500 cycles at 80% retention), and enhanced safety, while employing scalable, low-cost, and sustainable fabrication techniques.
The project combines advanced thin-film deposition, electrochemical optimization, and state-of-the-art in-situ/post-mortem characterization (SAXS, tomography, NMR, HAXPES) to provide mechanistic insights into lithium nucleation and interface stability. Research will be conducted at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Prof. Louis Piper, leveraging world-class pilot-line facilities, and includes a six-month non-academic placement with Echion Technologies to strengthen industry-academia collaboration.
LUCENT delivers scientific, technological, and societal impacts: advancing fundamental understanding of AF-LMBs; reducing dependence on ethically problematic raw materials; and supporting the EU Green Deal by enabling safer, lighter, and more sustainable batteries for electric mobility and grid storage. The fellowship will enhance the researcher’s expertise in materials engineering, cell prototyping, and open science practices, while fostering leadership, mentoring, and industrial engagement, laying a strong foundation for an independent research career in sustainable energy technologies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CV4 8UW COVENTRY
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.