INfrared FibeR Analysis of battery electroLYTe dynamIC chemiStry

As global energy demands escalate, and the use of non-renewable resources becomes untenable, renewable resources and electric vehicles require far better batteries to stabilize the new energy landscape.

To maximize battery performance and lifetime, understanding and monitoring the fundamental mechanisms that govern their operation throughout their lifetime is crucial.

Unfortunately, from the moment batteries are sealed until the end of their life, they remain a ""black box"", and our understanding of the health status of commercial batteries is limited to measurements of current, voltage, temperature, and impedance, at the cell or even module level during use.

However, the landscape has recently evolved with the integration of optical fiber-based sensors into batteries, providing unprecedented insights into their thermal and mechanical properties.

A significant breakthrough in this trajectory is the successful integration of Infrared Fiber Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy (IR-FEWS) into commercial Na-ion cells.

This achievement enables real-time monitoring of battery chemistry dynamics during operation, marking a paradigm shift in battery design with the potential for enhanced performance, extended lifespan, and enhanced reliability.INFRALYTICS aims to explore the myriad of opportunities opened by this advance.

The initiative kicks off by integrating chemical monitoring using IR-FEWS into battery cells, delving into the evolution of electrolytes and the formation of parasitic productsbe they soluble, solid, or gaseous.

Through a synergistic approach involving optical fiber design, electrochemical data generation, and data-driven modeling, the project strives to develop a technology capable of bridging complex degradation phenomena with batteries' long-term performance.

By addressing current knowledge gaps, INFRALYTICS aims to position the EU research and industry to produce more efficient and durable batteries, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.