Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SUBLIME (Solid state sUlfide Based LI-MEtal batteries for EV applications)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-05-01 bis 2024-10-31
Wide global deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) is necessary to reduce transport related emissions, as transport is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more than two thirds of transport-related GHG emissions are from road transport.
SUBLIME’s overall aim is to significantly increase EV adoption by taking on the technical challenges that are presented by the consumer needs – especially the higher energy densities, increasing their capabilities regarding long distance traveling.
The overall technical objectives are to develop and optimize the materials to be used in the cells, especially suitable cathode and sulphidic solid state electrolyte (SSE) and upscale their production.
SUBLIME has brought the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology, depending on aspect, to TRL 4 to 6. The scale- up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large- volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide- based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range of the EVs and reduce the thermal runaway risks. The battery is inherently safe, and by the avoidance of high cobalt contents reduces issues with scarcity of critical component materials, whiles the sulphidic contents of the solid electrolyte is available in abundance. Furthermore, the developed SUBLIME concept will contribute to a high recyclability (90%) and ability of recover cell materials at the end of the product lifetime.
For the primary pathway, the SUBLIME cells on 1 Ah capacity level have demonstrated 100 Wh/kg and 225 Wh/L. Beyond SUBLIME, short term energy density improvements have been identified, paving the way to reach 50% of the final objectives 450 Wh/kg & 1200 Wh/l within an estimated leadtime <1 year. Outlook on how to reach the final energy capacity targets has been developed. 240 Cycles demonstrated with In/SSE/MNC cell, 92 Cycles demonstrated with Li/SSE/MNC cell, C/10 rate. The safety requirements of the cells have been achieved. The cells will be useable for the automotive application environment.
For the secondary pathway of very high power density cells, the intended ionic conductivity levels for the materials have been reached, the maximum power level at discharge was demonstrated as 207.93 Wh/kg, 12.63 Wh/l, 0.585 kW/kg at 2C and 50 charge and discharge cycles on coin cell level with 6.7 mAh.
Cell costs analysis has revealed that the SUBLIME cell concept will contribute to low cells costs (114€/kWh end 2024, 75€/kWh in 2030) provided that expected material cost benefits by the corresponding large scale production volume of materials and processing can be leveraged.
SUBLIME’s overall aim is to significantly increase EV adoption by taking on the technical challenges that are presented by the consumer needs – especially the higher energy densities, increasing their capabilities regarding long distance traveling.
The overall technical objectives are to develop and optimize the materials to be used in the cells, especially suitable cathode and sulphidic solid state electrolyte (SSE) and upscale their production.
SUBLIME has brought the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology, depending on aspect, to TRL 4 to 6. The scale- up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large- volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide- based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range of the EVs and reduce the thermal runaway risks. The battery is inherently safe, and by the avoidance of high cobalt contents reduces issues with scarcity of critical component materials, whiles the sulphidic contents of the solid electrolyte is available in abundance. Furthermore, the developed SUBLIME concept will contribute to a high recyclability (90%) and ability of recover cell materials at the end of the product lifetime.
For the primary pathway, the SUBLIME cells on 1 Ah capacity level have demonstrated 100 Wh/kg and 225 Wh/L. Beyond SUBLIME, short term energy density improvements have been identified, paving the way to reach 50% of the final objectives 450 Wh/kg & 1200 Wh/l within an estimated leadtime <1 year. Outlook on how to reach the final energy capacity targets has been developed. 240 Cycles demonstrated with In/SSE/MNC cell, 92 Cycles demonstrated with Li/SSE/MNC cell, C/10 rate. The safety requirements of the cells have been achieved. The cells will be useable for the automotive application environment.
For the secondary pathway of very high power density cells, the intended ionic conductivity levels for the materials have been reached, the maximum power level at discharge was demonstrated as 207.93 Wh/kg, 12.63 Wh/l, 0.585 kW/kg at 2C and 50 charge and discharge cycles on coin cell level with 6.7 mAh.
Cell costs analysis has revealed that the SUBLIME cell concept will contribute to low cells costs (114€/kWh end 2024, 75€/kWh in 2030) provided that expected material cost benefits by the corresponding large scale production volume of materials and processing can be leveraged.
According to what was defined at the start of the project SUBLIME has reached 8 Milestones completely and 2 Milestones partially, mainly due to the fact that cells of smaller capacity (1Ah cells) have been manufactured and therefore smaller amounts of materials have been produced than initially planned. Manufacturing of cathode and SSE materials, Optimization, and upscaling on the required 1 to 10 kg scale has taken place. The materials reached or exceeded the KPIs set with regards to ionic conductivities ( SSE 2.8 mS/cm for primary pathway, >6 mS/cm for secondary pathway). A safety procedure to avoid H2S formation during of the handling of the SSE and cell manufacturing was implemented and successfully validated. Dry and wet processing routes for the materials and cell manufacturing have been developed and evaluated.
Based on the chemical composition of the cells possible cell recycling concepts and a life cycle analysis has been developed and evaluated, showing a recovery rate of 90% for the concept. The physical development of the cells for testing has been complemented by multiscale mechanistic modelling in which the material properties and its performance have been modelled and simulated on each atomistic, mesoscale and cell level scale. P2D and P4D models have been developed and validated to support the understanding and predication of cell performance and degradation. Suitable for the SUBLIME cell concept, a battery management system (BMS) strategy has been developed. Three different approaches for the development of anode protective layers have been investigated ( organic protective layers, inorganic layers based on PVD and sALD ) The most promising approach ( sALD with 1 nm AlOx) was identified and chosen for the subsequent manufacturing of the lager cells for testing and evaluation. Testing results have shown the performance potential in terms of energy density and cyclability. Based on these results, further measures for optimization of the cell technology towards completely fulfilling all KPIs completely have been identified and formulated.
Dissemination:
Project results have been disseminated on website (including downloadable public Deliverables), social media, newsletters (8), meetings with stakeholders (2), public fairs, conferences (20) as well as scientific publications (14 papers) as well as clustering with other BAT-1 projects. IPR management of the results was performed and revealed that the main type of results can be classified as Knowledge/Skills, Data, and Models (44), whereas the remainder (7) fall into the category of Protocols, Process Improvement, or Prototypes. It is planned to exploit the results in the form of knowledge, skills and data primarily for further co-funded research, as input for standardization and education. As significant results of the project, electrolyte and specific cathode materials for solid state batteries have been developed. Additionally, development of protective Li anode layer technology have progressed and
contribute to SUBLIME’s results. The upscaling of the cells was successful and pouch cells had been produced.
Based on the chemical composition of the cells possible cell recycling concepts and a life cycle analysis has been developed and evaluated, showing a recovery rate of 90% for the concept. The physical development of the cells for testing has been complemented by multiscale mechanistic modelling in which the material properties and its performance have been modelled and simulated on each atomistic, mesoscale and cell level scale. P2D and P4D models have been developed and validated to support the understanding and predication of cell performance and degradation. Suitable for the SUBLIME cell concept, a battery management system (BMS) strategy has been developed. Three different approaches for the development of anode protective layers have been investigated ( organic protective layers, inorganic layers based on PVD and sALD ) The most promising approach ( sALD with 1 nm AlOx) was identified and chosen for the subsequent manufacturing of the lager cells for testing and evaluation. Testing results have shown the performance potential in terms of energy density and cyclability. Based on these results, further measures for optimization of the cell technology towards completely fulfilling all KPIs completely have been identified and formulated.
Dissemination:
Project results have been disseminated on website (including downloadable public Deliverables), social media, newsletters (8), meetings with stakeholders (2), public fairs, conferences (20) as well as scientific publications (14 papers) as well as clustering with other BAT-1 projects. IPR management of the results was performed and revealed that the main type of results can be classified as Knowledge/Skills, Data, and Models (44), whereas the remainder (7) fall into the category of Protocols, Process Improvement, or Prototypes. It is planned to exploit the results in the form of knowledge, skills and data primarily for further co-funded research, as input for standardization and education. As significant results of the project, electrolyte and specific cathode materials for solid state batteries have been developed. Additionally, development of protective Li anode layer technology have progressed and
contribute to SUBLIME’s results. The upscaling of the cells was successful and pouch cells had been produced.
SUBLIME has brought the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology, depending on aspect, to TRL 4 to 6. The scale- up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large- volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide- based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range of the EVs and reduce the thermal runaway risks. The battery is inherently safe, and by the avoidance of high cobalt and graphite contents reduces issues with scarcity of critical component materials, whiles the sulphidic contents of the solid electrolyte is available in abundance. Furthermore, the developed SUBLIME concept will contribute to a high recyclability (>90%) and ability of recover cell materials at the end of the product lifetime.
Cell costs analysis has revealed that the SUBLIME cell concept will contribute to low cells costs (75€/kWh in 2030) provided that expected material cost benefits by the corresponding large scale production volume of materials and processing can be leveraged.
SUBLIME has furthermore given the chance for young scientists to further educate themselves and perform research in this field of technology, thereby fostering the position of the EU in this technology field.
Cell costs analysis has revealed that the SUBLIME cell concept will contribute to low cells costs (75€/kWh in 2030) provided that expected material cost benefits by the corresponding large scale production volume of materials and processing can be leveraged.
SUBLIME has furthermore given the chance for young scientists to further educate themselves and perform research in this field of technology, thereby fostering the position of the EU in this technology field.