Ongoing Projects in Battery Research
BASF Battery Network
Our long-term collaboration for over 10 years with the world’s largest chemical producer BASF SE focuses on the synthesis and the improvement of cathode active materials. The project is realized by combining the knowledge and expertise from industry and our research group. The BASF team at TUM synthesizes and works on the two most promising future cathode active materials: Ni-rich and Mn-rich materials. The one offering increased energy density and superior rate performance while the other one being low-cost and still offering compatible properties. Unfortunately, each material suffers from a unique set of intrinsic issues which we are trying to understand and ultimately to eliminate. Post-treatment of the materials ranging from washing steps to high temperature gas-treatments are used to stabilize these materials.
Duration: January 01, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Partner:
- Prof. Jürgen Janek, BELLA-KIT
- Prof. Linda Nazar, University of Waterloo
- Doron Aurbach, Bar-Ilan University
- Prof. Yang-Kook Sun, Hangyang University
- Weidong Zhou, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
- William Chueh, Stanford University
- Karsten Able, TU Darmstadt
- BASF SE
Contact: Tim Kipfer
Cell Chemistry Based on Silicon Anode and Ni-rich Oxide Cathodes
– Facilitation by Additives and Electrolyte Optimization (CAESAR)
The CAESAR project focuses on the increase in specific energy (Wh/kg) and energy density (Wh/L) of battery systems consisting of a microscale silicon-based anode paired with a nickel-rich NCM cathode. The combination of both high-capacity anode and cathode material is characterized and subsequently optimized via, e.g., carbon coatings, electrolyte formulations, and pre-lithiation, together with partners from TUM and industry.
Project Framework: Research funding from the BMWK within the 7th Energy Research Program
Duration: 06/2021-05/2024 (extended until 06/2025)
Partner:
- ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG
- BASF SE
- E-Lyte Innovations GmbH
- Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, TUM (FRM II)
- Lehrstuhl für Elektrische Energiespeicher, TUM (EES)
- Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Betriebswissenschaften, TUM (iwb)
- VARTA Microbattery GmbH
- Wacker Chemie AG
Contact: Jonas Dickmanns
Evaluation of high performance Li-Ion Silicon-dominant Anodes (ELSA)
The ELSA project focuses on investigating the performance, durability, and rate capability of Si/C composite based anodes, as well as elucidating cross-talk phenomena with Ni-rich cathode active materials (CAMs). Optimized setups on a cell level are envisioned to be employed in automotive applications.
Duration: 08/2023 – 07/2026
Partner: Cellforce Group GmbH
BASF
Group14 Technologies
Contact: Michael Geserer
The SIB:DE project aims to advance sodium-ion battery technology by fostering collaboration between academia and industry. It focuses on the development of scalable materials and the optimization of efficient production processes to support the transition to sustainable energy solutions. Within the SIB:DE project, the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry focuses on the analysis and optimization of cell chemistries at the laboratory scale. The aim is to evaluate rate performance and material lifespan using methods such as impedance spectroscopy and OEMS, and to define optimal cell parameters.
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Total funding volume ~14 Mio. Euro
Duration: 01/2025-12/2027
Further TUM partners: Institute of Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb)
Further partners:
- BASF SE (Koordinator)
- E-Lyte Innovations GmbH
- Evonik Operations GmbH
- Forschungszentrum Jülich/Institute of Energy Materials and Devices (IMD-4, HelmholzInstitut Münster)
- Fraunhofer-Einrichtung Forschungsfertigung Batteriezelle FFB
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung IFAM
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Gießerei-, Composite- und Verarbeitungstechnik IGCV
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- KIT/Helmholtz-Institut Ulm (AK Bresser)
- KIT/Helmholtz-Institut Ulm (AK Fichtner)
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) – Institut für Angewandte Materialien – IAM
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) – Institut für Nanotechnologie – BELLA
- Litona GmbH
- Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
- RWTH Aachen – Institut für Stromrichtertechnik und elektrische Antriebe (ISEA)
- Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH
- Universität Bayreuth
- Universität Münster (MEET Batterieforschungszentrum, IfBM)
- VARTA Microbattery GmbH
- Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW)
Contact: Philip Rapp
Fundamentals of Energy Conversion Processes
e-conversion is a Cluster of Excellence funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany‘s Excellence Strategy since January 2019. The e-conversion Cluster of Excellence is exploring ways to deliver a stable, efficient and sustainable supply of energy by combining nanoscience with energy sciences. This cluster focuses on the energy conversion processes of different technologies – from photovoltaics through (photo-)electrocatalysis to battery technologies.
Funding: A DFG Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2089/1 – 390776260)
Contact: Simon Qian
TUMint Energy Research - Industrialisability of solid state electrolyte cells
In this interdisciplinary project scientists from many fields like physics, (electro-)chemistry and in the further course also material science, process and production technology work together on the development and production of all-solid-state batteries. This is a long term project and is implemented in several steps. The first step, i.e., investigations on material synthesis and characterization of selected material classes, is already in progress.
In the medium and long term, solid-state battery systems be developed, optimized and tested in a pouch cell configuration.
Funding: Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Further TUM-Partner:
- Chair of Inorganic Chemistry with Focus on Novel Materials (Prof. Fässler)
- Chair of Energy Conversion and Storage (Prof. Bandarenka)
Duration: March 01, 2018 – December 31, 2024
Contact: Tobias Kutsch