A new class of powerful materials for electrochemical energy storage: Lithium-rich oxyfluorides with cubic dense packing

Project Information

LiRichFCC

Grant agreement ID: 711792

DOI

10.3030/711792

Project closed

EC signature date 16 May 2016

Start date 1 October 2016

End date 30 September 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Total cost

€ 4 114 753,75

EU contribution

€ 4 114 753,50

Coordinated by

KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - LiRichFCC (A new class of powerful materials for electrochemical energy storage: Lithium-rich oxyfluorides with cubic dense packing)

Reporting period: 2017-10-01 to 2019-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The LiRichFCC project will explore an entirely new class of materials for electrochemical energy storage termed “Li-rich FCC” comprising a very high concentration of lithium in a cubic dense packed structure (FCC). The process by which energy is stored in these materials constitutes a paradigm change in the design of battery materials and involves unexpected and surprisingly effective mechanisms: instead of storing lithium ions by intercalation into a stable host, lithium ions are populating and vacating lattice sites of the material itself. This new principle allows for unprecedented energy and power density compared to other battery materials and may revolutionize the use of batteries in applications involving a need for supplying large amounts of energy and power from small spaces.

The aim of the project is to explore the potential of this new technology by searching and optimizing possible new bulk materials of this kind, understanding and optimizing the processes at the materials interfaces, the charge transport mechanisms, and testing the electrochemical properties in laboratory test cells.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

After the first 12 months of the project, substantial progress has been made, and the outcome of the work thus far supports our view that LiRichFCC materials have breakthrough potential in the field of electrochemical energy storage. Hence, the objectives as originally defined in the project proposal remain valid.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Li-rich FCC materials have just been discovered by one of the partners of the consortium, and the possible chemical compositions, properties, and charge storage principle associated with this new materials class are far from being understood. Thus, it is the aim of the project to explore and optimize possible compositions, synthesis methods, structural properties and dynamics of Li-rich FCC materials through an interdisciplinary approach involving predictive computational work, advanced chemical synthesis and high-end characterization.

An important focus of the project will further be to evaluate the use of these materials for electrical energy storage and to identify potential other uses for Li-rich FCC materials that cannot be foreseen today.

The project is based on the long-term vision to develop a novel class of materials into practical use, involving foundational aspects in S&T with breakthrough character, high novelty and risk, as well as a broad, interdisciplinary approach.

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