Fraunhofer FFB focuses on production technologies for existing and future battery for-mats. This should accelerate the innovation and commercialization of future product and process technologies for large-scale battery production.
For the upcoming ramp-up process, preliminary design validation steps of the FFB Stand-ard “High-Power” pouch cell have been examined.
This study, involving collaboration among various Fraunhofer institutes and MEET Battery Research Center, emphasizes the importance of early-stage testing of battery cell com-ponents prior to large-scale manufacturing.
Key findings highlight the critical nature of validating both electrode and pouch cell de-signs through a structured approach. Identical testing protocols for diverse pouch cell formats enable the early identification of potential issues, facilitating optimization of both process and design before entering series production. The utilization of a defined cell configuration, consiting of anode, cathode, separator, and electrolyte, supports the evaluation of multilayer pouch cells (first generation of cells) and the second generation of pouch cells in the targeted format, that will be produced at Fraunhofer FFB.
The performance evaluation show that the second generation cells have improved elec-trochemical performance as indicated by higher capacity retention over a range of C-rates. The fixed cell configuration allows early identification of design-specific behaviors, significantly reducing scrap rates during mass production. Safety evaluations of the se-cond generation cells are ongoing.
In conclusion, the study shows the need for a preliminary testing and validation for the development of large format lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for production effi-ciency in future industrial applications.