For a chance to get to know better the works of the project, we are introducing to you a series of interviews with our project partners, who will provide an insight into their experiences and tasks of the project.
This interview takes place with
Iratxe de Meatza
from CIDETEC Energy Storage.
CIDETEC Energy Storage is a R&D institute focusing on creating high value knowledge through the value chain of advanced batteries, with special focus in industrial cooperation and transference of technology. Very active in the EU batteries ecosystem, we are funding member of Battery 2030+ and ETIP Batteries Europe, chairing WG4 - Cell Design and Manufacturing, amongst other initiatives.
What is the role of your organization in the CoFBAT project? What about your role?
CIDETEC Energy Storage’s main role in CoFBAT is, as WP4 leader, leading the component processing development and cell harmonization from coin to 0.5Ah pouch cells. Particularly, CIDETEC is focusing on electrode processing to achieve optimum performance with the CoFBAT active materials and the cell assembly process development with the gel polymer electrolyte based components, from single-layer to multilayer 0.5Ah pouch cells. CIDETEC will also participate in the advanced characterization and modelling of these prototype cells in WP5 as well as the 30Ah large scale cells testing, including thermal safety assessment in WP6.
My role as project manager and senior researcher in CoFBAT is to lead the activities and partners in WP4 as well as setting up the experimental work, coordinating and overseeing all activities of the CIDETEC research team working in the project.
What positive impact did the project activities have in your organisation?
Participating in a project such as CoFBAT, focused on developing advanced and safer Li-ion battery cells based on gel polymer electrolytes has allowed us to continue and expand CIDETEC’s know-how and capabilities, not only in equipment or facilities but also in human resources, towards solid state battery prototyping and technology transfer.
CoFBAT is also allowing us to continue our research and development activities on high capacity anodes and cobalt-free 5V spinel LNMO cathodes in collaboration with the material producers, so we can apply our background on electrode processing and cell development and continue creating knowledge to transfer to battery materials and cell producers.
Currently we are only at month 12 of a 4-year project programme so I expect to see further positive impacts and exploitable results from CoFBAT in the following years.
What do you like more about CoFBAT?
I like the high degree of engagement reached by the CoFBAT consortium towards this common goal of developing high-performance, safe GPE-based cobalt-free Li-ion battery cells. The project setup and coordination has been able to foster the collaboration and exchange between the partner institutions and particularly the researchers, allowing more in-depth understanding and faster development of advanced battery technologies thanks to this European-wide network of facilities and expertise. My team and I enjoy the interactions and learn a lot from researchers and experts with many different backgrounds applied to batteries and energy storage: polymer chemists, materials science experts, physicist working on advanced characterization methods, electrochemists, battery scientists, mechanical and electrical engineers, business developers,…
Science and technology-wise, I particularly like that CoFBAT has set up ambitious targets to achieve a GPE-based quasi-solid Li-ion battery cell with both intercalation/alloying electrodes as alternative and in parallel to the current trend of Li metal solid state batteries.
Let’s keep on the challenge for better and safer batteries for a Green Europe and World!
