Manufacturing technology development for solid-state batteries (SSB, Generations 4a - 4b batteries) (Batteries Partnership)

Topic description

ExpectedOutcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Position Europe at the industrial production lead in the international race for next generation, SSB technologies all through the value chain.
• Generation of an indigenous technological knowledge portfolio of industrially scalable manufacturing solutions for the different approaches to SSB including all core components: electrolytes, anodes –either carbon or Li(m) based - and their ad hoc composites cathodes.
• Contribute to climate neutral transport via the development of breakthrough technology in SSB batteries.
• Enable cost effective, low carbon footprint and low-emission mass production of Gen4 technology in Europe.

Lithium ion battery cells with conventional active materials are reaching their limits in terms of energy densities. Also, safety issues arise with the utilisation of liquid organic electrolyte which are becoming even more critical with the nearly introduction of advanced materials made to increase cell voltage and fast-charging rates. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative scalable manufacturing technologies based on of new solid electrolytes that can be also combined with metallic lithium at the anode, leading to significantly enhanced energy density. In that context, solid-state electrolytes enable overcoming current battery cells limitations in terms of voltage and safety (reducing dendrites formation risk) leading to and increased intrinsic thermal and electrochemical stability.

As a consequence, in parallel to the progress in new materials developments, there is a growing need of Research and Innovation addressed to develop appropriate processing techniques for assemble cells based on solid type electrolytes including all current foreseen technological options: polymer-based, hybrid polymeric, inorganic and other alternatives such as gel-like semisolid electrolytes.

Also, processing, handling and integration of lithium metal anodes into cells, with special attention to solid-solid interfaces and protection layers need to be tackled (Generation 4b). As an alternative route, advanced Si/C composite-based anodes (Generation 3b) may come as a possible solution, and their specific manufacturing approach and interface requirements towards solid state electrolytes should be covered as well. Thus, appropriate processing techniques should be developed, optimised, adapted or reinvented for the preparation of dense electrode and electrolyte layers, to enable scale up of solid-state battery cells (Generation4a and Generation4b) towards industrial GWh mass production.

Cathodic electrodes making use of advanced materials – e.g. high Ni content oxides- combined with electrolyte material to enhance interfacial compatibility may pose specific manufacturing challenges involving innovative dry and/or extrusion coating techniques.

Projects funded under this topic should make provisions to establish adequate coordination schemes with related materials running projects, with special focus in HORIZON-CL5-2021-D2-01-03: Advanced high-performance Generation 4a, 4b (solid-state) Li-ion batteries.

The new manufacturing techniques for the SSB Gen 4a/4b batteries should focus on cost, performance, safety and sustainability with clear prospects for cost-competitive large-scale manufacturing and uptake by the electro mobility sector. Also, as the manufacturing techniques may benefit from digitalization, and moreover be ready to be integrated in digitally-driven larger production lines, project proposals should address digitalization within their scope. Manufacturing and cell assembly processes to be developed should be more sustainable compared to the current LIB manufacturing. In order to demonstrate cost reduction and improvement in other parameters projects are expected to provide comparison with baseline manufacturing techniques.

Focus is into manufacturing technology development, up to pilot-level proof of concept. Activities to be aligned/feeding into the specific machinery development topic –industrial machinery development is beyond the scope of this topic.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards a competitive European industrial battery value chain for stationary applications and e-mobility’.

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 5-6 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Co-programmed European Partnerships