Vehicle-2-Grid:
Conference
April 15-16, 2026
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Further offers for the topic Battery technology

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HDT seminar programme

Ageing and post-mortem analyses of lithium-ion cells

Online seminar
VA26-00767
Participation fee: 745 €
The seminar language is German.

To registration
Expensive batteries in vehicles and also in stationary applications should function as long as possible, i.e. lose as little capacity as possible. The service life of lithium-ion cells is limited by ageing mechanisms at the material level. These can be elucidated by cell openings and subsequent material characterisation (so-called post-mortem analyses).

Speakers

PD Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Waldmann
Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Ulm

2024:
Habilitation “‘Aging mechanisms in Lithium-ion cells – detection, attenuation, and practical consequences'”, ZSW, Universität Ulm

Since 2022:
Team Leader, Post-Mortem Analyses and Aging Mechanisms, ZSW, Ulm
Principal Investigator (PI) at the Helmholtz Institute for Electrochemical Energy Storage (HIU), Ulm

Since 01/2018:
Team leader post-mortem analyses and ageing mechanisms, Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Ulm

08/2011 to 12/2017:
Scientist / Project Manager, Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), Ulm

09/2007 to 08/2011:
PhD student, Institute for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, University of Ulm

Agenda


Online seminar, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


  • Ageing and post-mortem analyses
    • Definition of general terms
    • Ageing effects at cell level
    • Typical cell designs (cylindrical, pouch, prismatic)
    • Post-mortem methodology (environmental conditions, loading condition/safety, cell opening, sample handling)
    • Methods of analysis (including SEM, EDX, ICP, XRD, GD-OES, CT, …)
    • Examples of cell openings
    • Ageing mechanisms on material and electrode level (SEI growth, Li plating, local Li deposition, gas evolution, particle fractures, material dissolution, …)
    • Inhomogeneous aging effects in cells, heating behavior of cells, temperature gradients
    • Relationship between safety and aging (dendrite formation, exothermic reactions, reintercalation of Li in graphite)
    • Overcharging and deep discharging
    • Fast charging, optimized fast charging procedures
    • Influence of fast charging on ageing
    • Electrical parameters influencing aging, optimal operating windows
    • Extension of battery life through targeted prevention of aging mechanisms
    • Safety of aged cells, second-life utilization
    • In addition to the findings mainly presented on commercial lithium-ion cells, initial insights into commercial sodium-ion cells are also provided.


Objective

The seminar provides an overview of the state of the art in the ageing of lithium-ion cells. Ways to improve battery life based on operating windows are explained, insights into post-mortem analyses are given.

Circle of participants

  • Interested parties, experts and managers from industry (R&D, quality assurance) as well as
  • Scientists and young academics (doctoral candidates, post-docs, students)