Category: News

Focus on WP4 – Advanced safe electrolytes led by POLIMI

The Politecnico di Milano University (POLIMI) was established in 1863 and has approximately 40,000 students and 1,400 professors as permanent staff in its seven campuses, which makes it the largest institution in Italy for Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design.

The Politecnico di Milano University (POLIMI) was established in 1863 and has approximately 40,000 students and 1,400 professors as permanent staff in its seven campuses, which makes it the largest institution in Italy for Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design. POLIMI is ranked n°2 in the EU and n°20 in the world for Engineering and Technology as per QS ranking in 2021. In 2018, the Department of Energy has been awarded by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) as “Department of Excellence” with a project specifically focusing on energy-related technologies. One main step has been the creation of a new research group with competence on the development of new-generation batteries, with a focus on materials development and characterization, hiring from other institutions three experts with a strong background in battery research including Prof. E. Paillard and Prof. Li and Prof. B. Bozzini.

The Electrochemical Energy Storage Materials Engineering Laboratory is progressively getting equipped and already possesses 104 battery cycler channels from 10 mA up to 20 A for testing cells within both WP4 (coin cells) and WP6 (pouch cells). Beside E. Paillard, Prof. Jie Li is involved in SPIDER as well as a PhD student, Jiajia Wan.

Main contact: Elie Paillard, POLIMI
After studies at National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble (INPG, France), E. Paillard did his PhD thesis in LEPMI, INPG on ‘New Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium Battery’ obtained in 2008. He then did a 2 year post-doc in NC State University, USA on ionic liquid electrolytes for lithium batteries and supercapacitors before joining in 2010 the MEET Battery Research Center, in Münster, Germany. In 2014, he joined Helmholtz Institute Ulm, Germany, and in 2015, he started his own group in Helmholtz Institute Münster (FZJ), focusing on electrolyte development. He was involved as a PI in the following EU projects: SPICY, SPIDER, VIDICAT, BATTERY2030+. He joined POLIMI in 2020 as an associate professor. He co-authored > 72 scientific publications, 3 book chapters, 10 patents and has a h index (google) of 30.

Why have you chosen to get involved as WP4 leader?

WP4 deals with electrolyte development, which is one of my oldest interest in the battery field and absolutely crucial for Li-ion batteries, especially when dealing with challenging electrodes, be them high Ni cathodes or high Si anodes. While critical for performance in terms of sustained energy density (capacity losses via side reactions), power and fast charge (ionic transport through bulk electrolyte, interfaces and interphases), the electrolyte is also a main risk factor. Indeed, it is usually highly flammable and, together with the separator, contains several times more ‘potential energy release’ in case of combustion, than the electrical energy that the battery can deliver. It is why SPIDER aims at reducing the risk of organic electrolytes via the removal of the most volatile compounds and the engineering of interfaces, while maintaining practical performance for automotive applications. When I started being involved in SPIDER, FZJ and the MEET institute were sharing the use of a High Throughput Screening (HTS) equipment, set-up by my colleague Dr. Cekic-Laskovic. This is quite a futuristic robotized equipment, that can formulate 10’s of electrolyte formulations in a day and then automatically assemble cells for testing. Thus, it accelerates the optimization work that must be done for the practical tuning of the electrolytes, especially the ‘additive’ part, to a given cell configuration and chemistry. Besides, innovative concepts are also being investigated at POLIMI and the HTS could allow their rapid implementation. Having Solvay, Centro Ricerche Fiat and CIDETEC in support in the WP, as well as CEA for assessing the safety of the cells that include our electrolytes makes SPIDER a good environment in terms of electrolyte development with a good balance between innovation and optimization.

What do you take out from this WP?

So far, we managed to increase by more than 50% the cycle life each of the two first generations of battery cells at lab scale. Nevertheless, practical issues such as the availability of cells components for instance compatible separators can play a critical role in the transfer of laboratory results to  larger cells. This needs to be considered as the sourcing of battery components can be time consuming, especially in regards to the project timeline. As for the other WPs, we had to deal with the COVID, which has been a hassle since electrolyte development requires time in the lab.

What are your expectations from the SPIDER project?

I hope that the advances made in other WPs can be transferred into WP4 as prelithiation, for instance, could allow for a greater flexibility in terms of electrolyte development, for instance by lowering the requirements in terms of first cycle efficiency, which is a main constrain for electrolytes. I hope that the tasks that were launched recently within WP4 will lead to scientific advances that would complement nicely the more ‘technological’ progresses made so far and that science and technology will meet for the last generation of SPIDER cells and allow, in the meantime, to generate new IP that could be used in the booming EU Li-ion sector.

Swiss Battery Days 2021

Iratxe de Meatza from CIDETEC Energy Storage presented work carried out in SPIDER as part of the cathode electrode processing and manufacturing activities at the Swiss Battery Days 2021.

Swiss Battery Days 2021 in honor of Prof. Dr. Petr Novák was organized by Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) as a three-day online conference on 15-17 February 2021. 

The scientific program of the conference was dedicated to academic and industrial aspects of battery R&D, with particular focus on Li-based systems. The conference details and program can be found via this link. An after-event note was released by PSI, mentioning the success of gathering about 600 young and experienced scientist attending from all over the world. On topics particularly relevant to SPIDER activities, several interesting talks and posters were dealing with silicon-based anode developments, prelithiation assessment studies and high energy cathode (Li and/or Ni-rich NMC) development and processing, as well as operando characterization.

At this online event and through “poster chat rooms” for viewing and interactions in the poster sessions, Iratxe de Meatza from CIDETEC Energy Storage presented work carried out in SPIDER as part of the cathode electrode processing and manufacturing activities. The poster presented findings on the storage aging effect on both NMC811 active material powder with slurry processing of this aged powder, as well as aged electrodes: “Influence of the ambient storage of NMC811 powder and electrodes on the electrochemical performance in Li-ion technology” Iratxe de Meatza, Imanol Landa-Medrano, Susana Sananes-Israel, Silvia Lijó-Pando, Aitor Eguia-Barrio, Iker Boyano, Idoia Urdampilleta.

Interesting Q&A and exchanges were happening in this online poster room, having several “screen-to-screen” live conversations and more frequently through the written chat room function, with a total of around 20 interactions with conference attendees.

CIDETEC presented the following poster at the conference:

Focus on WP2 – Prelithiation process development led by TUM

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of the leading universities in Germany and Europe (Shanghai ranking: 54), has approximately 42.700 students, wherein more than one third are female and about 30% are foreign students.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of the leading universities in Germany and Europe (Shanghai ranking: 54), has approximately 42.700 students, wherein more than one third are female and about 30% are foreign students.

Within the SPIDER project the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb), which is part of the TUM, is participating. For more than 10 years, the research institute now works on lithium-ion battery topics, mainly related to cell manufacturing, cell design and manufacturing processes. The iwb is one of the largest research institutions of production technology in Germany, and encompasses two chairs at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Garching near Munich. Both chairs, the Chair for Industrial Management and Assembly Technologies, as well as the Chair for Machine Tools and Manufacturing Technology, define the research content and the thematic focuses of the iwb. These lie in the areas of additive manufacturing, battery production, machine tools, assembly technologies and robotics, laser technology, sustainable production as well as in the field of production management and logistics.

Source: Andreas Heddergott / iwb

iwb at TUM
The iwb of the Technical University of Munich contributes to the SPIDER project with its expertise on battery research and production technologies. The complete representation of the battery production process chain from powdered active material to the finalized battery cell at one institute, in the form of the iwb pilot line, is unique in Germany.
Characteristics of the iwb pilot line are industry-oriented plant technology, flexible processes, and high safety standards. Due to the partially automated, adaptive plant technology, the iwb can produce coin, pouch, and hard case cells with capacities from a few mAh to over 30 Ah on one line. 

Source: Andreas Heddergott / iwb

The research fields of electrode design and manufacturing as well as cell production and quality combine the competencies of production research on battery cells at the iwb. The main focus of the research of many years is the consideration of process chains, the improvement of process capability, the use of new components and equipment as well as the processing of innovative materials. The characterization of intermediate and end products based on defined quality features and data mining approaches ensures a high and constant quality of the final product and processes. In addition to conventional lithium-ion cells, the iwb also deals with solid-state batteries and other promising technologies.

Main contact: Benedikt Stumper, TUM
Benedikt Stumper graduated with a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management with a focus on Materials Engineering as well as Management and Sustainability in 2018. After his studies, he joined the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management as a research associate in 2018. His main research activity focuses on the topic of prelithiation, where he works on direct contact prelithiation (mechanical prelithiation). In this context, he investigates the impact of prelithiation on cell performance and its implementation in the process chain of lithium-ion battery production. Besides he is active in the field of lithium-ion battery production, where he focuses on the processes of coating and calendering.

Why have you chosen to get involved as WP2 leader?
The work of WP2 includes the development and investigation of a suitable prelithiation process for lithium-ion batteries. For this purpose, different approaches are available, which imply different types of processes. The Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management, as one of the largest and leading institutes of production engineering in Germany, has extensive expertise in the field of process development and optimization. The iwb wants to bring this expertise into the project as a WP leader in order to enable a process-technical implementation of a suitable prelithiation method on laboratory and pilot scale and thus lay the basis for an industrial implementation.

What do you take out from this WP?
From this WP, the iwb takes knowledge and experience in the field of prelithiation. These provide the basis for further research and related projects. Through this, a new understanding of the process is also being built up at the iwb, about a process that is still relatively young and may be of great relevance in the future. Personally, these findings help me in my doctoral project and for my research. The prelithiation research provides deep insights into cell chemistry and the processes within a lithium-ion battery, which might have been less in focus before. Besides, working in an international research environment offers many opportunities to gain experience in battery research and international contacts. Working in such a large and multidisciplinary team is exciting and very educating. Thus, the work in the work package does not only result in technical knowledge in the field of new processes within the production of lithium-ion batteries, but also the management of international projects or working groups.

What are your expectations from the SPIDER project?
Mainly the above-described insight into new processes within lithium-ion battery production and a deeper understanding of the processes in a LIB. Besides, I hope that the research and the results of the SPIDER project will contribute to advancing battery technology and making LIB and its production more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. Not only improved cell performance but also more cost-efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly processes and products are necessary for improved market penetration of electric vehicles. SPIDER will make its contribution to this at a European level and possibly beyond.

4th Edition of H2020 Road Transport Research European Conference

The Coordinator of SPIDER Cédric Haon (CEA) presented SPIDER at the 4th Edition of H2020 Road Transport Research European Conference, which was held online on November 30th, 2020 and December 1st, 2020.

The Coordinator of SPIDER Cédric Haon (CEA) presented SPIDER at the 4th Edition of H2020 Road Transport Research European Conference, which was held online on November 30th, 2020 and December 1st, 2020.

The conference was organised by the European Green Vehicle Initiative (EGVI). You can access the program of the conference here.

The presentation of SPIDER was included in the session on “Green Vehicles Batteries integration into the vehicles”, along with other H2020 projects: iModBatt, EVERLASTING and SELFIE.

Cédric Haon (CEA) presenting SPIDER at the online H2020 Road Transport Research European Conference

WP4: Development of safe electrolytes

The development of novel nonaqueous aprotic electrolytes within the SPIDER project intends to enable long cycle life Si-Gr-based lithium ion battery cells with significantly advanced safety. For this reason, high throughput screening (HTS) equipment, available at Helmholtz Institute Münster/Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), was employed to fully automatically formulate 50 electrolytes varying in composition (HTS System I, Figure 1) for each generation of prototype cells.

Authors: Isidora Cekic-Laskovic (FZJ) and Elie Paillard (POLIMI)

The development of novel nonaqueous aprotic electrolytes within the SPIDER project intends to enable long cycle life Si-Gr-based lithium ion battery cells with significantly advanced safety. For this reason, high throughput screening (HTS) equipment, available at Helmholtz Institute Münster/Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), was employed to fully automatically formulate 50 electrolytes varying in composition (HTS System I, Figure 1) for each generation of prototype cells. Coin cells are then automatically  assembled using electrodes developed in WP5 by a HTS System II (Figure 1), while online measurement allowed for determining water content in electrolyte formulations. All the information are stored in the laboratory information management system (LIMS) database and printed via 2 D data matrix  code onto the electrolyte containing vials and coin cells.

Figure 1. Illustration of the high throughput screening system at FZJ

This approach allows identification of the most appropriate electrolyte combination possible for a given cell chemistry, using functional additives, co-solvents and conducting salts provided by SOLVAY. The lead electrolyte formulations are thereafter  sent to CIDETEC to validate the results in cell prototypes and select the best functional additive. Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF) contributes in analysing the gases produced at the electrodes via differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) for gaining insights into the anodic and cathodic interfacial reactions.

The first generation of SPIDER prototype cells uses an electrolyte formulation optimized in terms of functional additives and derived from a state-of-the-art formulation developed with only cell electrochemical performance in mind that allowed a 20% increase in terms of cycle life. Besides, non-flammable and low flammability electrolyte lines are being developed at FZJ and Politecnico di Milano and are already included in the screening for GEN1 cells.

Publication on Prelithiation process development

Application of Thin Lithium Foil for Direct Contact Prelithiation of Anodes within Lithium-Ion Battery Production.
The publication by Stumper et al. is available in the Procedia CIRP, Volume 93.

Application of Thin Lithium Foil for Direct Contact Prelithiation of Anodes within Lithium-Ion Battery Production

The publication by Stumper et al. is available in the Procedia CIRP, Volume 93.

Abstract

The rapid advancement and complex requirements of the automotive and energy storage industries require lithium-ion batteries with improved energy density and cycle life. The addition of lithium during lithium-ion battery production, known as prelithiation, has been shown to significantly improve these two performance indicators.

This paper addresses the challenges of understanding the novel technology of prelithiation and its integration into industrial battery cell production. Different prelithiation processes are analyzed and evaluated. The requirements for a series-capable process are derived and result in a suitable process design for the prelithiation of anodes within the lithium-ion battery production.

Graphical abstract

SPIDER at the Si-Drive workshop

The SPIDER project was presented at the Si-DRIVE workshop on June 10th, 2020 by Iratxe de Meatza (Cidetec).
The first workshop organised by the European research project Si-DRIVE was held online on June 10th, 2020. It aimed at gathering speakers from H2020 research projects around the issue of sustainability in batteries.

The SPIDER project was presented at the Si-DRIVE workshop on June 10th, 2020 by Iratxe de Meatza (Cidetec).

Figure 1: SPIDER presentation at the SI-DRIVE workshop

The first workshop organised by the European research project Si-DRIVE was held online on June 10th, 2020. It aimed at gathering speakers from H2020 research projects around the issue of sustainability in batteries. Iratxe de Meatza (Cidetec) represented the SPIDER project at the workshop. She made a presentation of the project, with highlights on the development of the separate components of the SPIDER battery (cathode, anode) as well as on second-life applications and on the recycling process.

Si-DRIVE is a H2020 project working on the development of “the next generation of Li-ion batteries”, “to tackle the major barriers to electric vehicle uptake”. Common partners between the SPIDER and the Si-DRIVE projects are Centro Ricerche Fiat and Cidetec. Learn more about the Si-Drive project at http://sidrive2020.eu/

For more information about this presentation, please contact us at contact@project-spider.eu

Figure 2: Program of the Si-DRIVE workshop on June 10th, 2020

Ethylene carbonate-free electrolytes for Li-ion battery: Study of the solid electrolyte interphases formed on graphite anodes

The publication by Ehteshami et al. is available in the Journal of Power Sources, Volume 451.

Niloofar Ehteshami, Lukas Ibing, Lukas Stolz, Martin Winter, Elie Paillard, Ethylene carbonate-free electrolytes for Li-ion battery: Study of the solid electrolyte interphases formed on graphite anodes, Journal of Power Sources, Volume 451, 2020, 227804, ISSN 0378-7753, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227804.

The publication by Ehteshami et al. is available in the Journal of Power Sources, Volume 451.

Abstract

We investigated the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) formed onto graphite using adiponitrile/dimethyl carbonate-based electrolytes with either lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) or lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), with or without fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as SEI-forming additive, by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Without FEC, LiDFOB leads to a more protective SEI layer than LiFSI. FEC leads to improvements in both cases and, in combination with LiDFOB, allows forming an SEI richer in LiF with an overall impedance lower than without FEC. It also prevents the dissolution of the SEI upon cycling. For the graphite electrodes cycled with the LiFSI electrolytes, the interface is greatly influenced by the presence of FEC. Nevertheless, with or without FEC, the SEI layer thicknesses decreases upon cycling. In presence of FEC though, this effect is mitigated, but localized exfoliation of graphite was observed after 50 cycles.

Graphical abstract

Data Management Plan

This public deliverable describes the project’s policy concerning any shared data. It will serve to ensure that any shared data is findable, accessible, interoperable and re-usable.    You may access it here

General Assembly meeting in Münster (Germany)

The second general assembly was held at FZJ (Forschungzentrum Jülich GmbH) on June, 12 and 13 2019 in Münster. On this occasion, the Spider consortium met the EC reviewer for the first time.

General Assembly meeting in Münster (Germany)

The second general assembly was held at FZJ (Forschungzentrum Jülich GmbH) on June, 12 and 13 2019 in Münster. On this occasion, the Spider consortium met the EC reviewer for the first time.

First day, all WP leaders presented the Work Package progresses made for last 6 months.

Second day, plenary WPs presentations were followed by workshops dedicated to Prelithiation, Electrodes preparation, Definition/distribution of work for the characterization, modelling and tests (electrical and abusive) and Timeline for data collection required for LCA and LCC.

All participants left with fresh ideas and actions to be adapted and realized.

Several audioconferences will be organized to continue the technical discussion until the next consortium meeting in September 2019 by audioconference.