In the seminar at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), outstanding international battery researchers share their scientific findings and technological inventions with Ulm scientists and students. The seminar takes place every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. during the lecture period.
09.04.2024
Dr. Marina Moraes Leite
Nanotechnology Research Group, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
12.04.2024
Prof. Chi-Chang Hu
12.04.2024
Prof. Fu-Ming Wang
12.04.2024
Prof. Jeng-Kuei Chang
16.05.2024
Prof. Gabriele Giuli
University of Camerino (Italy)
16.05.2024
Dr. Giovanni Orazio Lepore
University of Florence bei uns zu Gast am 16.05.2024.
06.06.2024
Dr. Paolo Giusto
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
12.06.2024
Dr. Edwin Knobbe
16.07.2024
Dr. Rinaldo Raccichini
05.08.2024
Prof. Jang-Yeon Hwang
Department of Energy Engineering at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
30.09.2024
Prof. Dr. Hye Ryung Byon
Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
15.10.2024
Carlos Catala Rubio und Jan Krug
February 27th, 2024
The EU is aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. The RISEnergy project (stands for: Research Infrastructure Services for Renewable Energy) is intended to accelerate the development of innovations for renewable energies until they are brought to market. One focus of the project is to make it easier for researchers and companies to access research infrastructures in European and non-European countries. The project, led by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), starts on March 1, 2024. The European Commission is financing RISEnergy with around 14.5 million euros for four and a half years.
RISEnergy: Innovationen für die #Klimaneutralität beschleunigen. Vom KIT koordiniertes EU-Projekt hat technologieübergreifende Förderung und Vernetzung aller Felder der erneuerbaren Energien #EE zum Ziel. https://t.co/pDZBIGcnHF pic.twitter.com/QYsQmzZ5bi
— KIT Karlsruhe (@KITKarlsruhe) February 27, 2024
“RISEnergy is creating a European ecosystem that covers all fields of renewable energy technologies,” explains Dr. Olga Sumińska-Ebersoldt, research associate at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), founded by KIT in cooperation with the University of Ulm, and operational co-project manager of RISEnergy. “We want to promote the development of promising technologies from the laboratory level to industrial maturity on a large scale.” Although there have been joint research infrastructure projects for certain technologies to date, RISEnergy is the first project of comparable size in Europe to cover all areas of renewable energy technologies: photovoltaics , concentrated solar energy, hydrogen, biofuels, wind energy and wave and tidal energy, as well as topics such as integrated grids, energy storage, materials research, information and communication technologies.
Institutions from 22 countries involved
RISEnergy brings together 69 technology institutes, universities and industrial partners from 22 countries in a consortium. They contribute, for example, with infrastructure and specialist knowledge or organizational support.
The core of the network is, among other things, the European Energy Research Alliance EERA (stands for: European Energy Research Alliance). EERA provides world-leading expertise through 18 so-called Joint Programs. “In order to include all important players, we asked the EERA Joint Programs to suggest the most important research infrastructures and experts for RISEnergy,” says Dr. Myriam E. Gil Bardají, research associate at HIU, coordinator of the EERA Joint Program on Energy Storage and also operational co-project manager of RISEnergy. The participation of organizations from the USA, Canada and Japan ensures the connection to innovations outside Europe.
Researchers can apply
As part of RISEnergy, 84 research infrastructures from 19 European countries as well as the USA, Canada and Japan open their facilities to external researchers and developers from companies. They can apply for use. A committee of experts decides on the award. RISEnergy covers the operating costs of the research infrastructure as well as travel and accommodation costs. The majority of the project budget is earmarked for this purpose.
The offer is expressly aimed at small and medium-sized companies. Uncomplicated access to large-scale research infrastructures is intended to support their innovation development. “We offer free use of laboratories. Researchers and experts from companies can travel, exchange ideas and carry out experiments,” says Sumińska-Ebersoldt.
Networking, exchange and communication
“When it comes to renewable energies, we always talk about combinations of technologies,” says Dr. Peter Holtappels, group leader at the Institute for Microprocess Engineering at KIT and scientific coordinator at RISEnergy. It is therefore important that experts from different subject areas understand each other. “Anyone who builds energy storage or works with photovoltaics or wind and waves usually operates in their own community. We want to bring these people together by strengthening exchange and interdisciplinary communication.” Workshops and consulting services are planned on overarching topics such as life cycle analyzes as well as projects for the standardization of terminology and data processing. “The focus is also on digital tools for the energy transition: artificial intelligence will help to optimize the properties of materials and devices or to replace critical materials in the supply chains,” says Dr. Holger Ihssen from the Brussels office of the Helmholtz Association, which helped found the new research consortium.
It is also the task of the project team to evaluate which funding measures make sense. In addition, there is the development of roadmaps for political decision-makers.
About RISEnergy (Research Infrastructure Services for Renewable Energy)
RISEnergy is part of the Horizon Europe funding program for research and innovation and part of the “Materials for Energy” module of the global intergovernmental initiative “Mission Innovation”. The core of the project consortium is the European Energy Research Alliance EERA, the largest research community for low-carbon energies in Europe and an important player in the EU’s Strategic Plan for Energy Technologies (SET). Researchers and companies can apply to use research infrastructures as part of Trans-National Access (TNA) programs. The duration of the project coordinated by KIT is from March 1, 2024 to August 31, 2028. The kick-off event will take place on March 12 and 13, 2024 in Brussels.
Further Information:
European Energy Research Alliance
Institut für Mikroverfahrenstechnik des KIT
About KIT
As “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association,” KIT creates and imparts knowledge for society and the environment. The aim is to make significant contributions to global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. To this end, around 9,800 employees work together on a broad disciplinary basis in natural sciences, engineering, economics, humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, business and science through research-oriented university studies. The innovation activity at KIT builds the bridge between knowledge and application for social benefit, economic prosperity and the preservation of our natural resources. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Image: Research on the production of climate-neutral fuels in the Energy Lab at KIT. Europe’s largest renewable energy research infrastructure will also become part of the RISEnergy ecosystem. (Photo: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT)
February 27th, 2024
The Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) and the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg (HIF) jointly confirm a proprietary graphite processing technology by the Australian startup company EcoGraf. EcoGraf purified the recovered graphite particles to the standard battery grade specification.
Published paper on this project: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cey2.483
The scientific program aimed at a comparison of the electrochemical performance of the recycled graphite material with a number of commercial battery graphite products. The study focused on the recovery and purification of graphite from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, encompassing a mix of NMC and LCO battery chemistries.
Through froth flotation, graphite was successfully recovered from the Black mass, and the resulting concentrate underwent purification. The results of testing confirmed that the electrochemical performance of the recovered graphite from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries matches that of the brand-new commercial anode graphite as shown in the summary below. It has been found that the structure and morphology of the recycled graphite are essentially unchanged compared to pristine commercial anode-grade graphite, and despite some minor impurities from the recycling process, the recycled graphite provides a remarkable reversible specific capacity of more than 350 mAh/g.
Newly assembled recycled graphite and Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2(NMC532) cathodes cells show an excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 80% after 1,000 cycles, i.e., comparable to the performance of reference full-cells comprising pristine commercial graphite. Further refinements in the electrolyte composition yielded remarkable stability, evidenced by negligible capacity loss and consistent performance throughout extended cycling tests.
One of the Australian startup’s innovations involves blending recycled graphite with high-quality Tanzanian graphite for manufacturing anodes, thereby advancing sustainable battery solutions and ensuring high performance in lithium-ion cells.
The research program was undertaken between the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) and the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU). The project results are further validation of the effectiveness of the graphite purification process for the production of high-performance battery graphite, as well as the re-use of recycled battery anode material for anode, battery and electric vehicle customers.
Further Information:
https://www.ecograf.com.au/
January 30th, 2024
The demand for energy storage is growing worldwide. Lithium-ion batteries will only cover them to a limited extent due to the use of critical raw materials. The search for alternative battery technologies is therefore in full swing: A promising project called “four-volt sodium-ion battery” (4NiB) is expected to make progress here. In the project, the HIU, together with the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and three renowned partners, is developing sodium-ion batteries that are not only powerful and cost-efficient, but also represent an environmentally friendly alternative. It is planned that organic waste will also be used. The batteries should be tailored to electric vehicles in city traffic and stationary battery storage. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project with 1.35 million euros over a period of three years under funding number 03XP0572.
In addition to the ZSW and the HIU in Ulm, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH with the Institute for Energy and Climate Research are among the project partners of the 4NIB consortium. Another partner is the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg with the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF).
4,700 gigawatt hours by 2030
In future scenarios for a sustainable energy supply, batteries are a key element and indispensable, especially for storing electricity generated from renewable sources and for electromobility. The forecast increase in the need for energy storage from 700 gigawatt hours (2022) to 4,700 gigawatt hours (2030) requires not only the production of the batteries, but also the provision of the significant amounts of raw materials required for this.
Sodium instead of lithium
A currently young but rapidly emerging technology is sodium-ion batteries. In them, sodium takes over the job of lithium. Sodium is available in large quantities and is inexpensive because it can be obtained, for example, from sodium chloride (sea salt).
The other key materials of sodium ion batteries do not contain cobalt, nickel or lithium and can therefore be produced without critical raw materials. By eliminating expensive copper foils in the battery and replacing the graphite currently used in lithium-ion batteries with alternative carbon compounds that can be obtained from renewable raw materials, not only can costs be reduced, but sustainability can also be further improved.
Such sodium-ion batteries are already being commercialized in China, so Europe needs to follow suit as quickly as possible. However, it will still be a few years before it becomes a truly mass-produced product because a lot of this new type of battery needs to be optimized.
Revolutionary anode technology: Hard carbon replaces graphite
The focus of the four-volt sodium-ion battery project is the development and optimal coordination of anodes, cathodes and electrolytes in order to realize a powerful, cost-effective and environmentally friendly sodium-ion battery. The main goal of the project is to present a high-performance cell in pouch format that achieves a specific energy of over 200 watt-hours per kilogram.
On the cathode side, the focus is on the development of high-voltage cathodes with four volts. The focus here is on the development of safe, high-voltage-stable mixed phosphates made from polyanions. Simulations are used to determine the optimal composition of the transition metals used in order to maximize the stored energy. The anode is made on the basis of hard carbon from organic waste, using preliminary products that are plentiful in Germany.
The electrolyte will be a non-aqueous liquid to which a so-called ionic liquid can be added to increase conductivity and safety. Strategies for pre-charging (pre-sodizing) such batteries should also be developed in order to maximize the energy in the battery.
About ZSW
The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) is one of the leading institutes for applied research in the major topics of the energy transition: photovoltaics, wind energy, batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, eFuels, circular economy, policy advice and the use of AI for process and system optimization. Together with industry, we pave the way for new technologies to enter the market. More than 300 colleagues and around 100 research and student assistants work at the ZSW locations in Stuttgart and Ulm. The ZSW operates a test field for wind energy and another test field for PV systems. The ZSW is a member of the Baden-Württemberg Innovation Alliance (innBW), an alliance of ten business-related research institutions.
Further Information:
https://www.zsw-bw.de/presse/aktuelles/detailansicht/news/detail/News/natrium-ionen-batterien-auf-basis-nachwachsender-rohstoffe-fuer-den-markt-vorbereiten.html
November 22nd, 2023
On November 22nd, a delegation from the Swedish battery and cell manufacturer Northvolt visited the Helmholtz Institute in Ulm. In addition to battery construction, Northvolt has also been operating its own cell production for several years and is now building another cell production plant in Heide (Dithmarschen) in northern Germany. The capacity of the first German plant should be around 60 GWh at full production one day and be enough to power one million vehicles.
The Northvolt delegation’s visit primarily served to establish further contacts with battery research in Ulm. Common topics included future, innovative cell chemistries for battery cells, the training of specialists for the battery sector, processes in cell production and the European economic location for battery production.
Welcome to HIU, @northvolt! ?? 1 day after Northvolt's announcement to soon produce #sodium-ion #batteries a NV delegation visited our institute in Ulm. Lots of intense talks, great getting to know you! @MaxFichtner @ClusterPolis @CELEST_18 @uni_ulm @DLR_Energie @KITKarlsruhe pic.twitter.com/D87Vx2X6Xd
— Helmholtz Institute Ulm ? (@HelmholtzUlm) November 23, 2023
As a manufacturer of lithium-ion cells, Northvolt focuses on applications in electric cars and stationary energy storage systems.
The cell manufacturer recently announced that it would now also develop sodium-ion batteries. The manufacturer announced a sodium cell that is said to be produced more cost-effectively and sustainably than the sodium-ion cells from Asia that are common today. The cell chemistry is developed at Northvolt Labs, in Västerås in Sweden. Northvolt stated in a press release that it had initially designed its own sodium-ion batteries only for stationary applications and not yet for electromobility.
Links: https://northvolt.com/products/cells/sodium-ion/
October 4th, 2023
Polymer electrolytes have a long history in battery research. Both material development and our fundamental understanding of ion transport mechanisms in polymers have evolved with it. Today we are at a crossroads where researchers see many possible paths into the future of batteries – and have a variety of battery technologies to choose from. Diversification in many different cell chemistries opens up new avenues to explore. Experts encourage us to completely rethink some concepts and findings from days gone by.
This week our colleagues, Sergio Rodríguez, María Martínez & Maica Morant together with Prof. Armand, took part in #ESPE23 – 1st European Symposium on #Polymer #Electrolytes for #Battery Applications of the @ClusterPolis, at @KITKarlsruhe.
?Thanks for the valuable contributions! pic.twitter.com/nKU8K0LQfT— CIC energiGUNE (@energigune_brta) September 29, 2023
During the first European Symposium on Polymer Electrolytes for Battery Applications (ESPE23), which took place from September 25th to 27th, 2023 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, more than 100 participants from all over Europe came together to present their latest results and network.
The program included 30 lectures as well as a poster session, several networking sessions and a symposium dinner. Bing-Xuan Shi, a doctoral student at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen, was awarded the poster prize provided by rhd instruments GmbH & Co. KG for his outstanding research work, which he presented at the symposium.
Links:
https://www.postlithiumstorage.org/de/news-events/detailseite/1st-european-symposium-on-polymer-electrolytes-for-battery-applications
https://www.postlithiumstorage.org/en/espe23
In the seminar at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), outstanding international battery researchers share their scientific findings and technological inventions with Ulm scientists and students. The seminar takes place every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. during the lecture period.
06.10.2023
Prof. Dr. Alejandro A. Franco
Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides (LRCS), Univ. de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
05.12.2023
Dr. Laurent Zinck
Innolith Science and Technology GmbH
September 16th, 2023
HIU director Professor Maximilian Fichtner was awarded the “Ulmer Köpfchen” this year. The “Ulmer Köpfchen” honors people who have achieved something special for society through their work. Fichtner was honored as a researcher for his work on the “battery of the future”.
Gülay Kul & our director @MaxFichtner were awarded with the “Ulm Köpfchen” 2023. Gülay Kul is spokesperson for the #Ulm Women’s Forum. Kul & Fichtner have committed themselves to social issues in Ulm & were therefore selected from several candidates. https://t.co/JhryYJhPBc pic.twitter.com/ahEW75BHsr
— Helmholtz Institute Ulm ? (@HelmholtzUlm) September 18, 2023
In addition to Maximilian Fichtner, Gülay Kul, integration manager in the Biberach district, also received the award for her work this year. This year’s specially assembled search committee included, among others, Neu-Ulm’s mayor Katrin Albsteiger and Ulm’s mayor Iris Mann.
The “Ulmer Köpfchen” goes back to the Ulm master goldsmith Wolf-Peter Schwarz, who had already made and sold individual heads in the 1990s. In 2020, he wanted to give his little heads a contemporary meaning – as a sign of community and cohesion.
Those people should be honored “who do or say things far away from the loud mainstream that no one would have expected of them,” says the website. What is crucial, however, is that it pursues a social or community goal.
Links:
https://www.zukunft-mit-koepfchen.de/ulmer-koepfchen-2023/
https://www.schwaebische.de/regional/ulm-alb-donau/ulm/warum-dieser-ulmer-batterieforscher-mit-koepfchen-geehrt-wird-1900356
https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/neu-ulm/ulm-ulmer-professor-macht-batterieforschung-fuer-alle-verstaendlich-id67777311.html
July 11-12, 2023
This year, the closed conference of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm took place on the premises of the POLiS Cluster of Excellence (LM16). A former production hall of Daimler AG served as the venue. The researchers at the HIU exchanged views on all current and relevant topics of electrochemical energy storage at the two-day retreat. As always, the focus was on the material properties for future, innovative battery cells.
Download: Program HIU Biennial Meeting 2023
Download: Scienfic Posters List
Lots of great talks by our PIs and scientists at our 12th Biennial Meeting in #Ulm #Science Park II @uni_ulm @ClusterPolis @KITKarlsruhe @DLR_de @DLR_en @CELEST_18 @MaxFichtner @ervinguru @SFleischmann_ @CPunckt pic.twitter.com/OV8k9VO9U4
— Helmholtz Institute Ulm ???? (@HelmholtzUlm) July 11, 2023
The meeting started with the presentation of experimental “Methods and Techniques” for investigating battery materials. For this purpose, certain new analysis devices were presented, which have recently become available to the researchers at the HIU. The HIU researchers, employed through the German Aerospace Center (DLR), presented their research findings in the field of battery modelling.
Another subject area was filled exclusively with research lectures on lithium-ion batteries: The focus here was, for example, the prediction of battery aging and cell analysis, electrode coatings and the improvement of lithium intercalation kinetics. On the second day of the conference, cell chemistries beyond lithium-ion technology were presented and research on “mechanisms, interfaces and interphases” was presented.
Finally, the topics “solid-state batteries” and research on “sustainable materials and processes” found their place in the examination program.
Weitere Links:
http://www.hiu-batteries.de
27. Juni 2023
Dr. Zahilia Caban Huertas (✝ 22.06.2023, Ulm)
Dear all,
We find ourselves in the midst of grief about the unexpected passing of Zahilia, a valuable researcher, our colleague and friend.
Zahilia has been with us since April 2022 as postdoctoral researcher, supported by an MSCA Fellowship to investigate solid-state batteries. Since then she has become an essential member of our HIU family.
We will all deeply miss her and keep her in honorable memory. Zahilia and her family are in our thoughts and prayers. Together as HIU, we are wishing her family and friends all the strength and comfort to get through this time of sorrow. We have expressed our sincerest condolences to her sister and family on behalf of all colleagues at HIU, and would like to warmly thank all colleagues who are supporting her family these days.
We are in deep mourning and hope that our sympathy may give her family some comfort – at least a little.
On behalf of all HIU colleagues,
Dominic Bresser
Heribert Wilhelm
Maximilian Fichtner
