Electromobility and the generation and storage of renewable energies are cornerstones of the sustainability strategy of Germany and the EU. Battery, as a traction battery or as stationary storage, is a key element for commercial implementation. Through the interdisciplinary team at BLB, research on battery production and recycling, which are characterized by a high innovation density and speed of technological progress, can be advanced.
The Battery LabFactory Braunschweig (BLB) is a research center of the TU Braunschweig. The research range covers the entire value chain from material and electrode production to cell manufacturing, system integration and recycling. Process-structure-interdependencies and process-cost relationships are considered central issues at each phase. The BLB combines the competences of 9 institutes of the TU Braunschweig, the TU Clausthal, the Leibniz Universität Hannover, Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt – National Metrology Institute (PTB).
If you are interested in learning more about the Battery LabFactory Braunschweig, the entire battery production chain, or the associated research partners, please visit the BLB page.
Within BLB, the IWF team Automated Battery Production investigates the process steps of cell assembly located in the dry room, pouch foil processing, electrolyte filling, and cell sealing, which are the core processes of battery cell production. Here, the focus is on researching process-product interactions and material-adapted high-throughput processes. In addition, the team is developing automated process technology for processing solid electrolytes and lithium metal anodes of future battery cells. Following on from these issues of battery cell production, a further focus is the development of novel disassembly strategies and technologies for the recycling of battery systems, modules, and cells.
The IWF team Smart Production of Sustainable Batteries investigates sustainable products and processes, resource efficiency, simulation, and the use of Industry 4.0 approaches in battery production and recycling. Methods for environmental and cost-oriented assessment of production systems as well as data acquisition, storage, and processing are being developed to increase product and process quality while reducing process-related costs and emissions. This thematic is motivated by the high share (approx. 50%) of the total production-related CO2 emissions of an electric vehicle being caused by the battery system and its production. A large proportion of these emissions is material-related, which can be significantly reduced by efficient recycling systems and closed-loop material management. In addition to lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte, research is being conducted into next-generation and all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs).
The IWF is well connected through numerous national, European, and international research projects and contributes with its expertise to the German battery research clusters ProZell, InZePro and greenBatt. In addition, the IWF contributes to the Research Training Group CircularLIB and is a founding member of the European LiPlanet network.