Energy storage devices and systems for the future

Within the Fraunhofer Project Center for Energy Storage and Systems, the Fraunhofer IST bundles its expertise in the field of energy storage in mutual collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institutes IKTS and IFAM.

The common goal is to develop mobile and stationary energy storage systems towards industrial growth and to develop sustainable solutions. In particular, technology readiness levels of technology readiness TRL 4 to 6 should thereby be achieved, i.e. from feasibility on a laboratory scale through to application as a prototype in the relevant environment. The ZESS works closely together with Technische Universität Braunschweig and Battery LabFactory Braunschweig (BLB).

In the development and production of future energy storage devices, the Fraunhofer IST's main focus within the Project Center is directed at the field of all-solid-state batteries.

The new area of the Fraunhofer IST within the ZESS focuses not only on energy-storage development and process engineering but also on the associated factory systems and life cycle management.

The key topics at the Fraunhofer IST are:

• Production of anode and cathode materials as well as solid-state electrolytes
• Formulation strategies for solid-state batteries
• Mixing
• Granulation
• Dispersing

• Particle and powder characterization
• X-ray structure analysis (XRD) 
• Elemental analysis (EDX/WDX)
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, STEM)
• Electron microscopy (FIB, SEM, EDX)
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/ESCA) 
• Particle coating for the application of nitride and metallic layers
• Atomic layer deposition (ALD) 
• PVD processes
• Surface coating
• Porous silicon layers by means of the thin-film process (gas flow sputtering, hot-wire CVD with dry etching)
• Metallic coatings (Cu, Ag, Sn, Cr, Al) by means of cold-plasma transfer molding 

• Electrode production for solid-state batteries by means of wet and dry processes 
• Electrode characterization with regard to mechanical, structural, electrical and electrochemical properties
• Electron microscopy (FIB-SEM, EDX)
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• Profilometry
• Impedance spectroscopy
• Hardness testing
• X-ray diffraction (XRD)
• Depth profile analysis (SIMS) 
• Battery cell production
• Component development
• Plant and machine design
• System and process design
• Model-based planning and operation of battery production systems including simulation from product to factory scale
• Cyber-physical production systems (CPPS): Coupling of virtual models with physical battery production
• Data mining and data analytics along the battery process chain
• Data acquisition
• Processing 
• Evaluation
• Life cycle analyses for holistic product and process optimization 

Our activities cover the entire life cycle of battery systems - from raw materials to battery recycling - and are focused on technical, economic and environmental issues in equal measure.