Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCVSIB:DE Research – Sodium-Ion-Battery Germany Research
Battery cells are a key element of Europe’s energy and mobility transition: They drive the mobility transition the EU has committed to by 2030, enable the integration of large amounts of renewable electricity into the grid, and ensure an uninterrupted power supply – for example, during the expansion of 5G infrastructure. So far, lithium-ion batteries have dominated the market – but dependence on and scarcity of raw materials pose a growing challenge. Sodium, on the other hand, is considered a non-critical, readily available, inexpensive, and safe raw material, making it a promising alternative for both mobile and stationary energy storage systems.
As part of the SIB:DE initiative – which consists of the »SIB:DE Research« and »SIB:DE Development« projects – »SIB:DE Research« is specifically dedicated to the scientific evaluation of this technology. The project »Sodium-Ion-Battery Germany Research – SIB:DE Research« funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), brings together the expertise of 21 national partners from academia and industry. The goal is to assess the suitability of sodium-ion-battery technology (NIB, or SIB) for the European energy and mobility transition and to achieve rapid industrial implementation.
The consortium covers the entire value chain from battery material development to the manufacturing of large-format cells. By leveraging existing lithium-ion know-how (so-called »drop-in« technology), the project aims to accelerate the transition to the new technology and enable a rapid transfer of research results into practical applications – ranging from electric mobility to stationary energy storage.
SIB:DE Project Overview
From the Electrode to the Demonstration Module: Process Development at Fraunhofer IGCV
Fraunhofer IGCV’s research focuses on the processability of the electrode materials produced by the project partners – with a particular emphasis on layered oxide cathodes. These react much more sensitively to environmental conditions than conventional LIB materials: Even small amounts of moisture can impair both the processability of the raw materials and their electrochemical performance.
The goal is to systematically investigate relevant process parameters – particularly atmosphere, dew point, and process control – in order to derive robust process windows for electrode production. To this end, electrodes are manufactured on both a laboratory and pilot scale, comprehensively characterized, and made available for further testing.
Based on these electrodes, the Fraunhofer IGCV manufactures cells on a laboratory scale as well as industry-scale cylindrical cells in the 21700 format. The goal is to develop cells with long-term stability and high energy density to demonstrate their competitiveness against lithium-ion batteries. Finally, the manufactured cells are integrated into a demonstration module.
The insights gained provide the scientific and technical foundation for scaling up the technology and contribute significantly to paving the way for the industrial viability of SIB systems.
Coated sodium-ion electrode
Interconnected Research: »SIB:DE Research« and »SIB:DE Development«
Within the SIB:DE initiative, the »SIB:DE Research« project is closely linked to the partner project »SIB:DE Development,” which aims to scale up cell production to an industrial level. Fraunhofer IGCV – along with other partnersb – is involved in both projects, thereby ensuring a reliable exchange of findings between the two initiatives.
