Modern societies rely heavily on batteries, as they enable a flexible and reliable energy supply by storing energy and releasing it again when needed. The basic principle is the same for all battery types, but the materials used can vary and determine the performance, energy density, service life, and environmental compatibility of the respective battery technology.
For decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have dominated the market for electrochemical energy storage and serve as the technological benchmark for numerous applications. Their high energy density, efficiency, and industrial maturity currently make them the most powerful and cost-effective solution.
At the same time, however, their technological, economic, and environmental limitations are becoming increasingly apparent. In particular, raw material dependencies and safety concerns are driving European industry, research, and policymakers to develop complementary battery technologies. As a result, the landscape of metal-ion batteries is becoming increasingly diverse. New material systems and cell concepts are being specifically researched and further developed to better address specific requirements.
These so-called “next-generation” batteries can be designed for specific applications and can thus efficiently serve specific market segments. Depending on the application area, the necessary capabilities regarding energy density or safety are enhanced, while less relevant ones are largely neglected.
Fraunhofer FFB also views sodium-ion battery cell technology as a relevant field of research. Together with various partners, FFB is conducting research on SIBs, with the aim, among other things, of laying the groundwork for the further industrialization of the technology. To give you an idea of this area of research at Fraunhofer FFB, here are some of our projects. Would you like to learn more? Please feel free to contact our experts. You can find their contact information on the respective project pages.
In the two SIB:DE projects focused on research and development, Fraunhofer FFB and various partners aim to develop a sustainable, safe, and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, evaluate the suitability of sodium-ion technology for the European energy and mobility transition, and drive industrial scaling.
In doing so, the participants can draw on existing infrastructure and process engineering expertise from LIB production for the manufacture of active materials, as well as for processing through to the cell and module Level.
As part of a research project involving Fraunhofer FFB, MEET at the University of Münster, PEM at RWTH Aachen University, PEM Motion, the Institute for Industrial Management at the University of Münster, Hoppecke Batteries, E-Lyte, and SCIRES Consulting, a sustainable electrochemical storage concept based on sodium-ion technology is being developed. Local value chains following material procurement form the foundation of this concept. The concept is designed for UPS storage solutions.
In collaboration with Fraunhofer ICT, Fraunhofer IPT, Voltfang, HI MS; IMD-4 and Manugy, Fraunhofer FFB is conducting research into the development and production of safe, long-lasting, and scalable SIBs for stationary applications. SIBs with a new electrolyte are being developed to enable the production of particularly safe and long-lasting sodium-ion batteries.
Due to their advantages and relatively advanced technological maturity, SIBs are considered a reliable complement to LIBs, though they will not replace them in the long term.
A recently published study by a research team from Fraunhofer FFB, the University of Münster, ETH Zurich, and Stanford University found that battery technologies build upon one another to a large extent. There are significant knowledge flows within and between LIB and SIB battery technologies. These technological interdependencies are based on shared knowledge pathways regarding material concepts, cell architectures, and production processes. These knowledge transfers can be observed at both the product and process levels, underscoring the interdependence of manufacturing and design knowledge across chemical battery technologies. According to the researchers, knowledge already accumulated from LIB technologies thus significantly influences the development of new battery technologies such as SIBs.
A technological restart in the field of SIBs without prior knowledge of the design, functionality, and manufacturing of LIBs is thus proving to be significantly more difficult than previously assumed. Established market players have structural advantages over new entrants in the research and production of next-generation batteries due to their experiential knowledge, cross-chemical production and design expertise, and potentially existing infrastructure. This can lead to higher barriers to market entry, as new entrants cannot draw on knowledge accumulated over decades, nor on existing infrastructure and value chains.
It can therefore be concluded that companies and even countries that have not yet been among the leading players in the battery market cannot easily circumvent existing technological path dependencies by focusing directly on »Next Generation«-batteries.
Policy makers, industry, and research should therefore view metal-ion batteries as interdependent technologies rather than as isolated knowledge systems. The focus should be on supporting integrated research and development methods as well as platform capabilities that leverage manufacturing compatibility and existing design expertise across various battery cell types.
Rather than a post-lithium-ion era, what is emerging is a phase of technological coexistence and mutual development.
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB 