Hindering dendrite growth in lithium metal batteries

The HIDDEN project develops self-healing processes to enhance the lifetime and to increase the energy density of Li-metal batteries 50 % above the current level achievable with current Li-ion batteries. The HIDDEN consortium develops materials and their processes to functional battery layers as scalable, industry compatible, manufacturing technologies enabling sustainable energy storage technology with longer battery lifetime and higher energy storage capacity for more efficient utilization of sustainable, carbon free energy production technologies. HIDDEN will develop novel self-healing thermotropic liquid crystalline electrolytes and piezoelectric separator technologies, investigate both technologies with protective additives, and apply multiscale modelling means for electrolyte design and analysis algorithm to monitor the dendrite growth. Technologies will be upscaled from laboratory to industrial manufacturing processes, tested and finally demonstrated by assembling battery cells with battery layers and the temperature control system. The project brings together a strong interdisciplinary consortium of seven partners, industry and research balanced, with state-of-the-art background in battery chemistry and physics, materials modelling and analysis, upscaling of novel technologies by printing and coating, as well as in industrial assembling of battery cells. This is complemented by external advisory board with representation of key industry end-users.