“Lithium-ion
batteries
represent a key
technology”
Photos Rüdiger Nehmzow
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SGL group annual Report
13
Collaborative research is of fundamental importance
when developing new drive systems. This applies to
batteries just as much as it does to fuel cells. Interviewed
together, Christian Schreiner from SGL and Michaela
Memm from ZSW explain how advances in battery technology can support the transition from combustion
engines to electric drives.
Mobility concepts suitable for the future require ever better storage systems. As part of the LIB.DE project,
SGL is conducting research into the
further development of lithium-ion
batteries in collaboration with the
battery technology laboratory at the
Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg
(ZSW) and other industry partners.
Christian Schreiner (CS), SGL corporate research project manager,
and Michaela Memm (MM), responsible for projects at ZSW, talk about
electromobility, the options for even
more powerful batteries, and the
contribution made by carbon in the
form of graphite anode material in
batteries.
toward megacities. More and more people
How specifically are you pressing ahead
with further battery developments?
need more and more energy. So reducing
CS We are graphite specialists at SGL,
CO2 emissions, i.e. from exhausts, is more
and our internal research and develop-
important than ever before. High-perfor-
ment over recent years has contributed
mance batteries will be a fundamental fac-
towards improving the anode material
tor in achieving this.
to the extent that lithium-ion batteries
particularly when you consider the trend
have become more powerful – by devel-
How can we promote electric vehicles? What are the challenges for
battery development?
oping new formulations for our graph-
CS This topic is already picking up
high-energy anode materials. But we
speed in many countries around the
want to do even more, which is why we
world. The price of electric cars remains
are participating in the LIB.DE project
a challenge, as does expanding the
and why we also helped establish the re-
charging infrastructure. As far as the
search pilot system for cell production
battery is concerned, it’s mainly a ques-
at the ZSW in 2014/2015.
tion of range, rapid-charging capabili-
MM Putting it simply, the lithium-ion
ty, and service life. Everyone involved
battery is made up of anode material
in battery construction is working on
– graphite mostly – and cathode mate-
Mr. Schreiner, Ms. Memm, will we all
soon be driving electric cars?
these aspects.
rial, a compound containing lithium.
MM And that precisely is the deci-
These materials are coated onto thin
MM There will certainly be a huge
sive factor. We’re all working flat out at
metal films which are then coiled up,
increase in electric drive systems. De-
developing still further all the compo-
for example. When the battery is being
spite this, I think combustion engines
nents in a lithium-ion battery, including
charged, the lithium-ions are trans-
will still be around. It’s likely we’ll then
cell production. Lithium-ion technology
ferred by means of a liquid electrolyte
be using more hybrid drives, including
was and is the key technology. Not for
from the cathode material at the cell’s
fuel cells.
nothing is it now being used in every
positive terminal into the anode at
CS Car sharing with electric cars will
area related to consumer goods – from
the cell’s negative terminal. When the
definitely grow too. And more public
computers and cameras to cell phones.
battery is being discharged, this pro­
transport will also be electrified.
In the automotive sector, it’s now also
cess simply takes place in reverse. As
the dominant technology for electric
well as improving the materials, we are
Why is it so important to develop
new mobility concepts and new storage technologies?
vehicles, including plug-in hybrids. And
also working on the cell architecture
it still has a great deal of potential as
itself. In other words, how to get as
regards energy density and cell design –
much material as possible into a par-
MM We are facing huge challenges,
there’s still a lot we can optimize.
ticular casing.
ite, for example. We’re also carrying out
initial laboratory tests with potentially
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SGL group annual Report
What are the benefits of a collaborative partnership?
MM Each partner contributes its respective expertise and pursues the common goal of improving the battery. At the
same time, each allows the others a degree of insight into its own way of working. We complement each other and that
drives the project forward more rapidly.
CS As a research institute, the ZSW has
a holistic view of battery development; it
also provides us with the opportunity of
using well-established and detailed measuring methods on a large scale. That’s
a good combination. In the end, there is
greater understanding on all sides, so
we can then say that if we optimize or
change something at certain places, the
result will be even better.
How much more storage capacity can
electric cars possibly accommodate?
MM There is still room for increases in capacity; that’s the main focus of
our activity on the LIB.DE project. How
“INSPIRE has assembled an effective consortium with ambitious
technological targets. We expect
that this joint project will provide
significant momentum for establishing a competitive European
supply chain for fuel cell systems.”
— Rüdiger Schweiss, fuel cells project manager
much this will be in the end is not easy
to predict – battery development is very
complex. However, it’s important to
understand that we’re working toward
improvements at all levels, from the materials and cell manufacture to battery
The fuel cell,
production. As a highly respected and
construction.
like the lithium-ion battery, is regarded
experienced manufacturer of gas diffu-
CS In addition to the ongoing develop-
as another highly promising technology
sion layers based on carbon fibers, SGL
ment of the battery, it will be – to return
for the future of the automotive sector.
is making an important contribution to
to the start of our discussion – a ques-
The EU-funded Project INSPIRE, aim-
the development of lower-cost yet bet-
tion of promoting electromobility in
ing at the further development of fuel
ter-performing fuel cell systems for the
parallel, with aspects such as making
cell technology, started in 2016. Hydro-
automotive sector.
better use of the installation space in
gen, the energy source in the fuel cell,
In collaboration with other compo-
the vehicle and of optimizing automo-
is converted into electrical energy with-
nent suppliers (Johnson & Matthey Fuel
tive designs, such as greater use of light-
out any emissions being released. The
Cells, DANA Power Technologies Group),
weight material. Car manufacturers are
major advantage of this technology is
research institutions, and the BMW
definitely on to this. Because one thing
that hydrogen tanks can be very quick-
Group, representing vehicle manufactur-
is also clear: the cars of the future will
ly re-fueled and, because of hydrogen’s
ers, the aim is to develop a fuel cell stack
probably need even more energy than
high energy density, vehicles can achieve
based on the latest generation of compo-
today. Not least when autonomous driv-
ranges comparable with those of vehicles
nents, which will be a practical proposi-
ing becomes a reality.
powered by conventional combustion
tion in the medium-term with competi-
engines. However, in addition to estab-
tive series production costs.
lishing fueling infrastructure capable of
meeting the demand, there is still a need
More details on the LIB.DE project can be
to develop materials and manufacturing
More details on the INSPIRE project can
found at www.libde.de
technologies that are suitable for volume
be found at www.inspire-fuelcell.eu