Research Projects

The "ReAktiv" project addresses a significant improvement in the recycling process for round cells and the processing of the active materials recovered from them without producing black mass. In addition, the recycling of the active materials into new battery cells is to be demonstrated. On the other hand, a process based on the black mass from button cells is currently undergoing revision and optimization, aiming to enable the recovery of the contained lithium metal as well. Round cells, which mainly come from production waste, are first dismantled and the anodes and cathodes they contain are separated by type. Once the active materials have been removed from the electrode foils, they are cleaned and, if necessary, processed in further steps. The properties of this recycled material should be comparable to virgin material, which will be demonstrated by the construction of new cells with a recycled content and their subsequent characterization. At the same time, the knowledge gained will be transferred to a battery cell model with the help of a hybrid model, so that at the end of the project a model for recycled cells will be available as a design aid. Fraunhofer ISE is preparing an economic and ecological assessment of the new process chain. | Duration: 07/2023 - 06/2026

In the course of the expansion of renewable energy sources, the need for stationary storage systems will increase significantly in order to minimize the increasing volatility in electricity generation due to the continuous expansion of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic and wind power plants. This requires a further increase in the attractiveness of electrochemical energy storage systems. The biggest points of criticism are still the (excessively) high acquisition cost, caused in particular by the high cost of the battery cells and the sustainability of the batteries with regard to critical raw materials. All of these aspects are to be addressed in the “StrOboBatt” project. It focuses on the active materials themselves. The global dependence on certain raw materials is also to be minimized through the used materials and the sustainability of the battery cells is to be improved. | Duration: 06/2024 - 05/2027