Energy Storage Technology
The last decades Lithium-ion batteries are widely considered as the energy storage systems appropriate for use in low (laptops, cameras and smart cellular phones) and high (hybrid and all electric vehicles, renewables, aerospace) energy and power demanding applications.
The main reason for this choice is the high specific energy and power density, which is the highest in batteries with non-aqueous electrolytes. Nevertheless, with the growing energy storage demands there is a strong need for energy storage systems with higher energy and power densities. One way to achieve this goal concerns the development of new anode materials alternative to graphite that is currently used in commercial lithium ion batteries.
Along with our strategic partners (Airbus DS, Sunlight, Fraunhofer ICT, Cidetec, CERTH, FORTH) and under national and international-funded projects, MNTLab has been active on:
- Developing high energy density Li-ion cells operating at very low temperatures down to -40 oC (patent application)
- Studying PEO-based solid-electrolyte / LFP interfaces
- Electrode and cell development: In MNTLab, an extensive research of next generation electrodes takes place mainly by depositing silicon or silicon/graphene mixtures on various current collectors either by PVD methods or slurries. In addition, within MNTLab there is a complete infrastructure including a four-hand Argon filled glovebox for the fabrication of test cells.
- Electrochemical characterization: The electrochemical characterization bench comprises equipment such as battery testers and potentiostat/galvanostat with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy capabilities enabling many techniques.
