Secure electrolytes for lithium-ion-batteries

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Hanemann
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2016 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 288105319

The main objective of this proposal entitled Secure electrolytes for lithium-ion-batteries is the development of new electrolytes for lithium-ion-batteries with a significant reduction of the inflammability given in present commercial mixtures. In the first funding period three different base electrolytes with significant enhanced flash points in combination with thermal stable conduct-ing salts and for the first time integration of CO2 releasing flame-retardants in the battery cell had been developed. Despite the addition of new electrochemical passive materials in the cell the elec-trochemical performance have been retained in comparison to commercial reference electrolytes without any presence of flame-retardants. Based on that in this proposal two main research direc-tions are planned: First, the results shall be expanded from the up to now used coin cells to small and large sized pouch-bag cells investigating the upscaling to application relevant cell sizes and the related research questions of suitable scalability of all performance and safety issues. Second, the flame-retardants shall be integrated into the electrode layers enabling larger amounts within the cell and a simplified future processing. It has to be researched, how this integration affects the electro-chemical performance and the aspired safety increase. In both cases a comprehensive chemical analytic control, especially of the evolved gaseous decomposition compounds during thermal runa-way shall help to understand the decomposition mechanism and the effect of the applied flame-retardants.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants