Building more reliable and performant batteries by embedding sensors and self-healing functionalities to detect degradation and repair damage via advanced Battery Management System

PHOENIX aims to develop battery cells with integrated sensors (mechanical, enhanced impedance spectroscopy, temperature, gas, reference electrode) and self-healing (SH) functionalities (magnetically activated polymers, thermally activated polymers, metallic organic frameworks coated separator, core-shell NMC composites).

Tailor made triggering devices to activate SH mechanisms will be developed, prototyped and demonstrated in Generation 3b and 4a Li Ion batteries.

A Battery Management System (BMS), capable of detecting defective operations and of triggering SH functionalities will be developed with in-line communication.

The degradation detection and quality, reliability and life (QRL) will be tested through dedicated profiles (fast charging, extreme temperatures, calendar life). The novel batteries’ manufacturing will be studied from a recycling and mass production point of view.

PHOENIX’s objectives:1.Develop sensors to detect healable degradation mechanisms2.Develop materials with SH functionalities triggered by external stimulus to eliminate/avoid failure mechanisms in battery cell components3.Develop triggering devices to activate SH mechanisms4.Demonstrate proof of concept for coupling sensors and SH agents via BMS 5.Detect critical degradation processes during cell ageing and estimate the QRL over the life span6.Assess the environmental sustainability and demonstrate the competitive advantage over alternative approaches such as replacement, recycling or second use7.Adopt an adaptable approach towards battery cells mass production processes which do not hinder the subsequent recycling process and enables an economic evaluation of the developed cellsPHOENIX will collaborate with the BATTERY 2030+ initiative and will contribute to Europe’s competitive and sustainable battery manufacturing industry.

PHOENIX consortium is a partnership of 4 RTOs, 1 university, 4 SMEs expert in materials, sensors, modelling, BMS, recycling and battery manufacturing.