Safe, sustainable, and non-expensive batteries are more and more desired to cope with the ever-increasing need for higher shares of renewable energies in the energy mix and electrification of the transport sectors. Development and maturation of new battery technologies (e.g., all-solid-state, and beyond Li-ion) is a complex process and requires an efficient holistic approach with attention to chemical, processing, and manufacturability aspects, starting from the early stages of design. In this regard, the potential for scale-up from low-capacity coin-cells to high-capacity multi-layer pouch cells, together with advanced characterization methods, are real assets to a battery R&D lab. Such a unique infrastructure is available in the battery development lab of VITO/EnergyVille to accelerate the development of new battery chemistries and designs.
Advantages
VITO/EnergyVille with its unique combination of battery experts and advanced infrastructures offers a state-of-the-art battery R&D environment. In addition to a coin-cell line, the battery lab benefits from a unique capacity for the preparation of porous electrodes up to A4 size, using a series of advanced mixing, coating, and calendering equipment. High-quality pouch cells can be assembled inside an 85m² dry room with a dew point of -45°C. The dry room accommodates an automatic pouch cell line with pneumatic cutter, automatic zig-zag stacker, ultrasonic welder, pouch sealer, and a vacuum chamber to facilitate the electrolyte injection and resealing after the formation cycle. Moreover, a group of ex-situ and in-situ characterization techniques are available to assess the electrochemical and physical properties of the cells and battery components, i.e. electrodes and electrolytes.
Slurry & electrode processing:
- Slurry mixing: planetary ball mill, horizontal bead mill, vertical vacuum mixer, planetary centrifugal vacuum mixer
- Desktop coater (tape casting), automated coater (tape casting & slot-die) with hot-air drying head
- 30-ton calendering unit with heated rollers
Pouch and coin-cell assembly:
- Coin cell: pressure-driven coin-cell crimper inside glove box
- Pouch cell: semi-automatic pouch cell assembly in dry room: cutter, zig-zag stacker, ultrasonic welder, sides and tab sealer, vacuum chamber for electrolyte injection
In-situ & ex-situ characterization of cell, electrode, and electrolyte:
- Electrochemical: 8-channel battery cycler (up to 15A), 16-channel potentiostat for advanced electrochemical characterization techniques (up to 400mA), with cooling and heating chambers, rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE).
- Physical/chemical: helium pycnometer for measuring the electrode porosity, liquid density meter for liquid electrolytes, Karl Fischer titrator for measuring the water content, In-situ coin-cell calorimeter for thermal characterization of a battery under load, zeta-potential analyser for concentrated solutions, rheometer for both rotational and oscillatory rheological tests, gas mass spectrometer for in-situ analysis of gases during formation cycle of batteries.
Applications
A broad range of projects can be realized, from the evaluation of new battery concepts to the optimization of existing technologies.
- Investigation and optimization of new formulations for battery components (electrode, electrolyte, separator).
- Demonstration of new battery concepts and designs in high-capacity pouch cells.
- Detailed analysis of electrochemical and thermal signature of cells.
- In-depth analysis of ageing phenomena, fault detection, and post-mortem analyses.
- Compatibility assessment of new battery/component designs with existing industrial battery production norms.
Customers
Producers of battery components
- Active-materials
- Conductive additives
- Binders
- Solvents, salts, and electrolyte additives
- Separators and packaging materials
Battery end-users (e.g. residential storage, electric vehicles)
- In-depth analysis of a battery design/chemistry for a given application
- Proof of concept and demonstration of new battery designs in pouch cells
More information about the labs at EnergyVille and their testing facilities can be found on EnergyVille's website.
