Lithium-ion battery: in the focus of research – in the interest of industry

The Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (aabc) revolves around the big trends in the field of electric vehicles and battery research. Last January the aabc took place in Mainz, Germany. Participants from the automotive, supplier, process and chemistry sector as well as from academic research discussed innovations, barriers and potentials.

Batteries based on lithium metal and lithium ion systems are still considered as key components for advancing electro-mobility. Thus, the aabc devoted a whole symposium to this subject, which was chaired by the expert on battery research, Prof. Dr. Martin Winter. First, improvements of lithium ion technology were being focused. Contributions on material innovations for anodes, cathodes and electrolytes and their application in whole cells led to a stimulating discussion in the morning. The afternoon was dedicated to the “Next Generations” of lithium batteries. How can the energy density of lithium/sulfur systems be brought into application? And what else – beside higher safety – can be expected from solid electrolytes?

“Materials research for batteries is on a very rapid path. Thus, scientific and technical exchange to determine and advance the state of the art is highly important“, says Prof. Winter, who is part of the organizing team of aabc since 2006. “ It is essential, that the exchange of knowledge is bridging the ideas and findings of the academic and industrial worlds

In June 2017, the next aabc will take place in San Francisco, and a top-class program has been arranged again.