Higher energy densities to facilitate electromobility breakthrough

Münster University participates in new battery research project

A new project was launched at the MEET battery research centre of Münster University (WWU). Under the name "MEET Hi-EnD", a research association is working on batteries with much higher energy densities to help promote the widespread introduction of electromobility. The scientists are seeking to attain a fivefold increase in the energy density of the lithium batteries currently available by developing new cell components. The aim is to increase the range of electric vehicles. The project is being coordinated by the WWU professors Hans-Dieter Wiemhofer from the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry and Martin Winter from the MEET battery research centre.

The abbreviation "MEET HiEnD" stands for "Materials and Components for Batteries with High Energy Density." The project is being sponsored to the tune of some 8.1 million euros by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the initiative "Excellence and Technological Implementation of Battery Research – ExcellentBattery". Of this funding, 2.8 million euros go to the Münster University. From the WWU, in addition to Prof. Hans-Dieter Wiemhöfer and Prof. Martin Winter, the working groups of Prof. Jens Leker and Prof. Stefano Passerini are also involved in the project. Other project partners are the RWTH Aachen University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Karlruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Mie University in Japan, and the companies ecc Repenning, BMW and Robert Bosch. The results of the three-year project are to form the basis for the production of a prototype cell.

In order to reach the goals it has set itself, the research association will on the one hand be concentrating on the synthesis of innovative, safe electrolytes that can replace conventional liquid electrolytes in the currently used lithium-ion batteries. On the other, the team will be developing new anode and cathode materials with high energy densities to harmonise with the corresponding electrolytes. The focus of interest is on creating a new generation of high-energy batteries, among them the lithium-air cell. The cells produced are to be tested for their performance capability with the help of the companies from the industry that are cooperating in the project, who will also assist in preparing the transfer of the project's results to the area of production and application. An information and training platform is also to be put in place to serve as a basis for the long-term promotion of the energy-storage concepts and material innovations that have been developed.