Battery production for the energy efficient society of future

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project was to provide cost efficient whole cells using lithium iron silicate (LFS) cathodes, which would be suitable for use in vehicles and for storage of electricity from sustainable energy sources. The work fell within the scope of the challenges ´Sustainable and attractive cities´ and ´Competitive industry´. It included development of a cathode material, a scalable process for its manufacture, preparation of cathodes and design of whole cells including an anode and electrolyte. Finally, 40 prototype cells were prepared and tested in an application.

Expected results and effects

The cathode material showed improved performance at room temperature, and its production was made in a kg-scale in an up-scalable process. The whole cells that were developed in the lab could also be manufactured in production related equipment. The tests were made in a facility that simulated storage of electrical energy from photovoltaic cells in a household. The tests lasted for more than 3 months and an equivalent of over 100 charging and discharging cycles, with only 3% performance degradation. The material can therefore be considered as suitable for storing of renewable energy.

Planned approach and implementation

The project was carried out in cooperation of Uppsala University, Höganäs AB and LiFeSiZE AB. Results from the research team at Uppsala University were used by Höganäs AB to develop an improved material and an up-scalable manufacturing process, while the cathodes and the whole-cells were developed by LiFeSiZE AB. Manufacturing, testing and evaluation of the prototype cells was conducted by external partners.