ATLAS.LIB – AI-Supported High-Throughput Research for the Next Generation of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Neues deutsch-kanadisches Verbundprojekt nutzt automatisierte Labore und maschinelles Lernen, um Elektrolyt- und Elektrodenmaterialien effizienter zu entwickeln und die Leistungsfähigkeit von Elektrofahrzeugbatterien zu steigern.
24 November 2025 – With the launch of the ATLAS.LIB project (“Accelerated Technologies for the Development of Lithium-Ion Batteries Through Synergistic Electrolyte-Electrode Integration”), a new phase of data-driven battery research is beginning at the Helmholtz Institute Münster (HI MS) of Forschungszentrum Jülich in collaboration with international partners. The project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the DLR Project Management Agency as part of a German-Canadian funding initiative involving science and industry on the subject of battery and battery material research. The project will run for three years – from August 2025 to July 2028 – with funding of 650,000 euros.
Optimised Interfaces for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
ATLAS.LIB has set itself the goal of significantly improving the performance and service life of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which are primarily used in electric vehicles. The focus is on the targeted optimisation of the interfaces between electrodes and electrolyte, which are crucial for the stability, fast-charging capability and energy density of the cells.
The project is pursuing an innovative approach: automated high-throughput experiments (HTE), the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being used to systematically test and evaluate chemical compositions and material combinations. The aim is to uncover synergy effects between electrodes and electrolyte that enable stable battery performance even at high voltages.
Self-Driving Laboratories as a Research Platform
The self-driving laboratory for battery electrolytes (Self-Driving Lab, SDL) established at Helmholtz Institute Münster plays a central role in this. It enables AI-controlled optimisation of electrolyte formulations in real time – from mixing and characterisation to performance evaluation. In close cooperation with the National Research Council Canada (NRC), which operates a complementary SDL for cathode materials, material properties and interface processes are automatically analysed and modelled.
The consortium is supported by the partners NRC-Mississauga (Canada), McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada), Pulsenics (Canada) and Preli GmbH (Aachen, Germany). Preli GmbH provides pre-lithiated and non-pre-lithiated anodes for high-throughput evaluations and characterisations, while Pulsenics enables the integration of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) into the automated experiments. McMaster complements the project with advanced operando analyses and material characterisation.
New Approaches to Material Development
The interplay of automated experiments, data-driven analysis and machine learning marks a paradigm shift in battery material research. Instead of empirical individual tests, material combinations can be investigated on a large scale and optimised using learning algorithms. This allows new, industrially compatible electrolyte formulations to be identified and validated more quickly.
The materials developed in this way are designed to prevent the decomposition of the electrolyte at high voltages, avoid the formation of inactive lithium phases and thus significantly increase the service life and energy efficiency of future high-performance batteries.
Perspective and Scientific Added Value
In addition to its direct contribution to the further development of electric vehicle batteries, ATLAS.LIB aims to establish a comprehensive materials and performance database. This will serve as a knowledge platform for systematically deriving structure-property relationships and will be used as a basis for future AI models. Furthermore, the project strengthens transatlantic research cooperation between Germany and Canada in the field of sustainable energy technologies.
Coordination at Helmholtz Institute Münster
Dr. Isidora Cekic-Laskovic
Research Group Leader "Interfaces and Interphases"
- Institute of Energy Materials and Devices (IMD)
- Helmholtz Institute Münster: Ionics in Energy Storage (IMD-4 / HI MS)
Room E.100.066.1