EUROLIS - Advanced European lithium sulphur cells for automotive applications
Overview
Background & policy context:
EUROLIS (project No. 314515) is a collaborative small or medium scale focused research project funded by European Union and coordinated by the National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The project has started on 1st of October 2012 and it will run for 4 years. The aim of the project is development of an advanced and sustainable lithium sulphur (Li-S) battery for automotive use. Intense collaboration between 7 research organizations (universities and research institutes) and 4 industrial partners (3 large enterprises and 1 SME) will enable a fast progress from understanding to optimisation of Li-S cells. The potential commercial use of Li-S cell will be tested within three generations of Li-S batteries.
The project includes basic research on various levels which will help understand the mechanisms governing the Li-S cell in different electrochemical environments. The applied part of research will focus on optimisation and integration of materials into 18650 cells and cell testing for their appropriateness in the automotive applications.
Objectives:
Li-ion batteries become a reality in the future vehicles, although they do not fulfil completely the demands of consumers. In this respect batteries with higher energy density are required. Lithium technology utilizing sulphur as a cathode is one of the optimal choices since it offers the possibility of achieving high-energy, long-life storage batteries with a potential low price. At present, the practical use is faced with two major problems: (i) a low intrinsic conductivity of sulphur and polysulphides and (ii) loss of active materials due to solubility of the intermediate products in the commonly used electrolytes. The low intrinsic conductivity can be overcome using improved electronic wiring. The occurrence of soluble polysulphides is reflected as a loss of the active material during the cycling and additionally soluble polysulphides are responsible for overcharging problem which lowers the energy efficiency. With an aim to have stable capacity retention with a good cycling efficiency it is important to find a suitable electrochemical environment for the lithium sulphur batteries. Possible approaches are using polysulphide reservoirs with modified surfaces in the highly mesoporous conductive matrix. Proposed system with high surface area should enable weak adsorption of polysulphides intermediates allowing reversible desorption. This way a full utilization of the active material without significant losses can be obtained. In order to understand the influence of surface area and surface modification, including interactions between electrolyte and sulphur based cathode composite we need to have a reliable characterization techniques. In this respect different electrochemical, spectroscopic and physical characterization (in-situ or ex-situ) techniques can provide us valuable informations about the possible mechanism which can be used in planning of substrates for sulphur in the Li-S batteries.
Methodology:
Project workplan
The RTD work can be divided into three phases:
- Active components preparation
- Analytical work and measurements
- Prototype assembling and testing
Project work packages:
WP1 Project administrative and financial management
The work package represents continuous efforts to carry out the financial and administrative coordination by controlling information flow & communication.
WP2 System definition
In this work package the technical coordination activities and system integration activities take place. This WP contains the coordination of the system selection and integration into prototype with final testing procedure according to the defined standards.
WP3 Cathode composite
Objectives of the work package have been broken down into well-defined parameters which will be studied during project duration. For instance, parameters like a) influence of the materials and the composite morphology; b) impact of the type of substrate and its surface properties, c) ratio between sulphur and substrate and d) thickness and loading will be determined within this WP.
WP4 Electrolytes and separators: Formulation and Modelling
WP5 Analytical tools
The objective of this work package is the use of different in situ and ex situ analytical tools for analysis of Li-S batteries at different stages of charge and discharge with the aim to understand the Li-S battery electrochemical properties. Within this work the following analytical tools will be used: XPS, different spectroscopic techniques and electrochemical techniques.
WP6 Benchmarking of other Li-S technologies
In this work package we will be benchmarking alternative Li-S technologies, like a combination of lithiated silicon as anode and sulphur as cathode. Additionally, we will test the performance of a flow battery using catholyte as an alternative technology. Finally, an all solid state sulphur battery based on a ceramic separator will be developed and tested.
WP7 Integration, scale up, testing, life cycle assessment and benchmarking
The objective of this work package is the integration of cathode composite and electrolytes developed in WP3 and WP4 into prototype cells. The performance and safety behaviour of each generation will be separately assessed and compared with the Li-ion technology. A full life cycle assessment (LCA) will be performed.
WP8 Dissemin
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