Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)

“The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) is a renowned, internationally leading research institute in the field of renewable energies. From materials research and the development of prototypes and production processes to application systems, quality tests and market analyses, we cover the entire value chain in the battery.

Focus of the project MiKal is to determine the correlation between the mixing processes, the resulting calendaring behavior in the meaning of machine and product parameters as well as the performance dominating electrode microstructure. This should provide the identification of optimal calendering conditions and the prediction of both the machine settings and product structure settings.

The E-Qual project aims to increase efficiency and quality in the production of lithium-ion batteries. Using data-based approaches, the four partnering institutes develop and implement solutions to minimize costs and environmental impacts as well as measures to increase quality, energy density and throughput in the field of battery cell construction. The application of Big Data methods for quality forecasting and early rejection detection as well as the investigation of the influence of energy efficiency/flexibility measures on product quality will make innovative contributions to improved quality management.

The project HiStructures aims to achieve a decisive increase of the energy density of Lithium ion cells and the reduction of the correlating decline of power in charge and discharge. At the same time, material and manufacturing related costs are intended to be reduced and an abundant concept for manufacturing will be elaborated. A particularly high energy density is pursued by the production of ultra-thick double side coated electrodes. For reducing the correlated decline of power, tailored concepts of hierarchically structured electrodes are investigated. Optimum structures will be evaluated by simulation and adopted scalable manufacturing processes will be explored. The research on a suitable concept for full cells is included and demonstrated at a stacked pouch cell.”