AiF-Nr. 22233 BR | EFDS Nr. IGF-17/17
project period: 01.04.2022 – 31.03.2024
research institution
Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme (IKTS), Dresden
abstract
For several years, electromobility has been a topic that the automotive industry, the German government and the EU have been addressing and have formulated very ambitious goals. Current developments in electromobility, driven in particular by the automotive industry, require the development and production of reliable and durable batteries. To meet future demand, new, scalable process technologies for optimized semi-finished products and raw materials (e.g. active material powder) must be available in addition to production facilities for complete battery systems. Against this background, it is clear that manufacturers of coating equipment, service providers/contract coaters and suppliers of raw materials can participate precisely at the beginning of the battery production value chain. One problem with the current state of the art for lithium ion batteries is the use of active materials containing cobalt. Although cobalt can be partially extracted from recycling processes, open-pit mining of cobalt ores in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still the main resource in the extraction of this metal. For this reason, a major goal in this project is to develop a technology that avoids or greatly minimizes the use of cobalt or other critical raw materials, thereby contributing to sustainable technology development. The project will therefore use the Co-free high-voltage material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 as well as a high-nickel NCM with a low Co content (10%). The project aims to develop and evaluate coatings on active materials that will significantly facilitate and advance the use of Co-free or Co-low active materials. The main objectives of the project are to increase the energy density and service life of the batteries and to prevent degradation of the electrolyte by means of a suitable coating of the active material.