Batteries, particularly lithium-ion (Li-ion), are revolutionizing the way we live and work, allowing portability and energy efficiency. Electronic devices All kinds. Your life span This is an important challenge for the manufacturing sector of these devices and especially for those who require demanding features. Electromobility.
Current batteries undergo degradation due to use, time and the nature of their technology, i.e. as they are charged and discharged, they lose efficiency and maximum charging capacity. From the perspective of economic efficiency, safety and sustainability, it is essential for the battery manufacturer to find materials and processes that allow to increase the efficiency, safety and useful life of lithium-ion cells.
Current batteries undergo degradation due to use, time and the nature of their technology, meaning that as they are charged and discharged, they lose efficiency and maximum charging capacity. From the point of view of Economic efficiency, Security Y ConsistencyCombining improvements in these three parameters, it is essential to find materials and processes that allow increasing the efficiency, safety and useful life of lithium-ion cells. Battery manufacturing industry. When it is found that the effective life of the battery is affected by external factors such as extreme temperature, mechanical pressure, Too much energy During operation, old age and internal degradation processes. These degradation processes are often associated with various unwanted events taking place in the materials that make up the electrochemical cell.
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From this meaning Institute of Energy Technology, ITEWork on the “BATSENS” project with the aim of implementing new strategies to extend the useful life of lithium-ion batteries through the development of new sustainable materials, sensing and analysis of components in the cell. Post mortem of cells (parts that make up a battery).
What is the useful life of the battery?
The useful life of a Li-ion battery varies greatly depending on the different chemistries used in both the anodic and cathodic components, i.e. the compounds that make up the negative and positive electrodes of the cell. For example, according to a report by the prestigious Volta Foundation Battery report 2023, the useful life of a Li-ion electrochemical cell is intermediate 1000 and 2000 charge and discharge cycles Before its capacity was reduced to 80%.
Extend its useful life
There are several important reasons why extending the life of Li-ion batteries is so important. First of all the Environmental sustainability: Allows to extend its useful life Reduce carbon footprintLong-life batteries will allow more zero emissions in electromobility due to the greater durability of the battery, and reduce the need to produce new batteries, reducing the environmental impact of mining and manufacturing components.
The extension of useful life will also have an impact Economic savings. Frequent replacement of batteries can be expensive for users. Saving money in the long run by extending battery life, requiring fewer replacements and improving the user experience.
Another important factor is escalation Security. Aged or damaged batteries are less safe and more prone to failure or fire. Extending useful life helps maintain equipment safety. Finally, it will produce a Performance Extension of the battery, which will allow it to maintain excellent performance for a long time in terms of capacity and safety.
Sebastian LopesBatsens, who is in charge of the project, explains that extending the useful life of Li-ion batteries is important for reasons. Environmental, economic, safety and performance. “This will benefit users and the environment in the long run.”
In order to know which strategy is most suitable to extend the useful life of a battery, it is important to know which degradation processes are responsible for the reduction of battery life. “If we pay attention Degradation processes, usually associated with the materials that make up an electrochemical cell. To identify, it is necessary Cell monitoring, with the aim of improving the design of products or operating systems. This monitoring of cells must be supported by post-mortem analysis of cell components that identify and verify the degradation process responsible for the reduction of battery life,” says Sebastián López.
It contains IDE works from A perspective of three approachesOn the one hand, in development New products with a long life cycleThe focus is on sustainable and economic development of high energy density cathodes rich in metals such as nickel. Improve thermal and mechanical properties Polymeric separators by incorporation of additives. It addresses more Continuous cell monitoring By including intelligent sensors inside, it finally enables a post-mortem analysis system of different types of Li-ion type cells, allowing to understand the degradation mechanisms of batteries, and to obtain the necessary information about the manufacturing processes of materials, components and cells according to the needs of each type of battery.
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Therefore, this project focuses on electric vehicle applications. New cathode materials with high energy density Always taking sustainability into account in the production of materials and improving stability against cell cycling and increasing battery safety by producing separator membranes with high mechanical and thermal stability.
“Batchense Project”Strategies to extend the useful life of lithium batteries based on new materials and cell sensitivities”. The Institute of Energy Technology (ITE) funded by the Valencian Institute for Business Competitiveness (IVACE+I) with file number IMDEEA/2023/31 and funded by the European Regional Development Program with funding from the European Union. (FEDER) 2021-2027 in the FEDER Operational Program of the Valencian Community
