SIGNE: Composite Silicon/Graphite Anodes with Ni-Rich Cathodes and Safe Ether based Electrolytes for High-Capacity Li-ion Batteries

- Start: 01/09/2022
- End: 31/08/2026
- Budget: 7 979 282 €

Partners:

- University of Limerick (Coordinator)
- CIDETEC Energy Storage
- KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE (KIT),
- ZENTRUM FUR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADENWURTTEMBERG (ZSW)
- DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV (DLR)
- THERMAL AND MATERIAL ENGINEERINGCENTER LLC (TMEC)
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA (U-ROMA)
- FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITAT JENA (FSU JENA)
- TES RECUPYL SAS (TES)
- SOLVIONIC (SOLV)
- CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA (CRF)
- SIDRABE VACUUM SIA (SBD)
- ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY (ADI)
- SVOLT ENERGY TECHNOLOGY (EUROPE) GMBH (SVOLT)
- FERRARI-SOCIETA' PER AZIONI ESERCIZIO FABBRICHE AUTOMOBILI E CORSE (FERRARI SPA)
- PAPIERFABRIK WATTENS GMBH & CO KG (DLF)

Website:

https://signehorizon.eu/?page_id=1654

The project:

The SiGNE Project will deliver an advanced lithium-ion battery (LIB) aimed at the High-Capacity Approach targeted in this work program. Specific objectives are to:

(1) Develop high energy density, safe and manufacturable Lithium-ion battery
(2) optimize the full-cell chemistry to achieve beyond state-of-the-art performance
(3) Demonstrate full-cell fast charging capability
(4) Show high full-cell cycling efficiency with >80% retentive capacity
(5) Demonstrate high sustainability of this new battery technology and the related cost effectiveness through circular economy considerations
(6) Demonstrate high cost-competitiveness, large-scale manufacturability, and EV uptake readiness.
SiGNE will achieve these objectives by incorporating 30% Si as a composite where it is electrically connected to the Graphite in nanowire form.
This will realize a volumetric ED of >1000 Wh/L when pre-lithiated and paired with a Ni-rich NCM cathode optimized to deliver 220 mAh/g. This will be further enabled by a specifically designed electrolyte to maximize the voltage window and enable stable SEI formation. A sustainable fiber-based separator with superior safety features in terms of thermal and mechanical stability will be developed. SiGNE will establish the viability of volume manufacturing with production quantities of battery components manufactured by the project end. The battery design and production process will be optimized in a continuous improvement process through full cell testing supported by modeling to optimize electrode and cell designs through manufacture as a prismatic cell and prototype testing by OEMs. (SOH) monitoring across the entire battery lifecycle will optimize safety 2nd use viability. SIGNE will go significantly beyond SoA with the recovery of anode, cathode, and electrolyte components. In this circular economy approach, recovered materials will be returned to the relevant work package to produce new electrodes.

CIDETEC'S role in the project:

CIDETEC Energy Storage is the WP5 leader of full cell testing. It’s mission during the project is to develop cathode formulations with single crystal NMC811 and anode formulations with Si-C composite containing 30%Si. The development of water-based coatings and the upscaling will be one of the main targets, in order to enhance the sustainability of battery materials. CIDETEC is also in charge of the full cell harmonization and testing of the different materials developed in the project. CIDETEC has also participation in the technical WP1 (anode development), WP3 (cathode development), WP6 (cell design & prototyping).