Advanced materials & Lithium-ion cells of space batteries

The project:

The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking to develop a high specific energy Lithium- ion cell, which shall be superior to the existing state-of-the-art technology in terms of specific energy while preserving most of the properties of the current Li-ion cells used in space. The purpose of this activity is to develop, manufacture and evaluate Lithium-ion prototype cells with a breakthrough enhanced energy density.

The main technical objective of this project is twofold as it refers to the long-term cycling of high-energy density Li-ion cells. More specifically the critical targets are (i) to develop cells with high energy density above the current state of the art (>200Wh/kg), and (ii) to be able to withstand cyclability with a minimum capacity degradation under specific aerospace conditions. These two targets are challenging to be met simultaneously since many advanced materials with high specific capacity that have been proposed lack stability over extensive cycling.

In order to achieve the main technical objectives, there will be intensive work on all materials that constitute the high-energy density cells, either at the anode, electrolyte and cathode.

Our role:

CIDETEC is in charge of several key technical tasks and activities, including:

– Development of high voltage cathode electrodes –formulation, scale up-.

– Manufacturing of a 1Ah prototype pouch cell including the materials and formulations developed in the project –silicon anode, high voltage cathode, specific electrolyte.