Project description
Lithium batteries that can 'heal' themselves
The EU-funded HIDDEN project plans to develop self-healing processes that could extend the lifespan of lithium–metal batteries by 50 % and thus allow production of durable next-generation batteries with 50 % higher energy density compared to traditional lithium–ion batteries over total lifetime. Major focus will be placed on producing novel self-healing thermotropic liquid crystalline electrolytes and piezoelectric separator technologies. Multiscale modelling of electrolyte design will enable researchers to gain valuable insight into dendrite growth that plagues lithium-metal batteries. The project brings together partners from both academia and industry with expertise in battery chemistry and physics, material modelling, printing and coating, and industrial battery cell assembly.
Objective
The HIDDEN project develops self-healing processes to enhance the lifetime and to increase the energy density of Li-metal batteries 50 % above the current level achievable with current Li-ion batteries. The HIDDEN consortium develops materials and their processes to functional battery layers as scalable, industry compatible, manufacturing technologies enabling sustainable energy storage technology with longer battery lifetime and higher energy storage capacity for more efficient utilization of sustainable, carbon free energy production technologies.
HIDDEN will develop novel self-healing thermotropic liquid crystalline electrolytes and piezoelectric separator technologies, investigate both technologies with protective additives, and apply multiscale modelling means for electrolyte design and analysis algorithm to monitor the dendrite growth. Technologies will be upscaled from laboratory to industrial manufacturing processes, tested and finally demonstrated by assembling battery cells with battery layers and the temperature control system.
The project brings together a strong interdisciplinary consortium of seven partners, industry and research balanced, with state-of-the-art background in battery chemistry and physics, materials modelling and analysis, upscaling of novel technologies by printing and coating, as well as in industrial assembling of battery cells. This is complemented by external advisory board with representation of key industry end-users.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectric batteries
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systems
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
02150 Espoo
Finland