At a glance
As part of the “Electrochemical Energy Storage” topic, Jülich researchers are working on compact and highly efficient battery systems for stationary use and for sustainable electromobility.
They are researching new materials and technologies, as well as innovative processes for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly production of battery cells. Their practical research is supported by theoretical physics, computer simulations, physical modelling, and AI applications to investigate the creation, function, ageing process, and failure of energy materials. On this basis, proven lithium-ion battery concepts can be improved and a new generation of energy storage systems beyond lithium can be developed.
Challenges
With the increasing share of renewable energy, electricity generation is becoming less predictable. Excess wind and solar energy must be stored to bridge periods where there is a lack of wind or sun and to keep the power grid stable. The mobility sector also needs to change, and in order to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fleets will have to be extensively electrified with energy from renewable sources.
Solutions
One solution is batteries. They store the electricity generated from renewable sources efficiently and, when converted back into electrical energy, 80–90 % of the original energy is recovered. Conventional lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density and a long service life.
However, they have known disadvantages. The raw materials used, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, are scarce and their extraction has a negative impact on the environment. Lithium-ion batteries can also overheat and, in extreme cases, catch fire. Over time, and through repeated charge and discharge cycles, lithium-ion batteries lose capacity, which shortens their effective lifetime. In addition, recycling them is technically challenging and expensive.
Researchers at Jülich are seeking to overcome the limitations of lithium-ion batteries. They are developing solid ceramic electrolytes, for example, which make lithium batteries robust and safe. They are also focusing on next-generation alternative concepts such as solid-state, sodium-ion, redox flow, or metal–air batteries, as well as other innovative approaches. In addition, they are using machine learning and AI to improve material design or to test novel concepts for fast charging and bidirectional charging.
The high-performance batteries developed at Jülich have various areas of application. In electromobility, for example, they could offer an alternative to batteries with ever-increasing energy densities. Electric cars might then only have a range of 300 kilometres, but could be recharged in less than 10 minutes. In addition, they are required for many load distribution applications in stationary operation, for example for uninterruptible power supply.
Many of the raw materials used in conventional batteries, such as cobalt, nickel, graphite, and lithium, have to be imported and have a critical impact on the environment. Researchers at Jülich are focusing on new recycling processes to ensure that these raw materials can be reused and recycled for as long as possible. A Jülich study has shown that recycling these materials reduces costs by 45 % across the entire value chain, while cutting CO2 emissions by 35 %. However, in light of raw material shortages, research into sodium–sulfur batteries has regained significance. Sodium is available in large quantities and is more environmentally friendly to extract than the related element lithium.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger-A. Eichel
Institute director
- Institute of Energy Technologies (IET)
- Fundamental Electrochemistry (IET-1)
Room R 405
Research Groups
Source Headerimage: HI MS / Judith Kraft