Advanced Battery Technology Center (ABTC)

The objectives of the “Advanced Battery Technology Center“ (ABTC) are the development of new materials and innovative technologies for high-performance and sustainable battery cells. Expertise in battery chemistry, innovations in electrode production and modern cell manufacturing technologies are brought together on an interdisciplinary basis.

In the ABTC, researchers from the Technische Universität Dresden (Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, focus on materials and electrochemistry) work together with Fraunhofer IWS experts in materials, surface and laser technologies under one roof. This team develops new solutions from materials to manufacturing processes to prototype cells and their evaluation. The focus is on lithium-based high-energy cells, such as lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries. In this way, the ABTC addresses the holistic process chain for the development of new battery cells and transfers new research results from the laboratory into application-relevant prototypes.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and thus electromobility have found their way into various mass markets. Research focuses on the further improvement of performance characteristics – especially energy density – and on cost-effective and environmentally friendly production processes.

One of ABTC's approaches to increasing energy density is the use of pure (100 percent) Si anodes. NMC/Si battery cells are being developed as part of the KaSiLi project. Based on a fundamental understanding of materials and experience in battery cell design, multilayer pouch cells are being constructed and evaluated in an application-oriented manner.

As a contribution to cost-effective as well as environmentally friendly production, researchers at the ABTC are developing the DRYtraec^® process. This innovative dry-coating process enables the production of battery electrodes without solvents and drying processes.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (Li-S) are characterized by high specific energy (currently up to 450 Wh/kg) and potentially low material costs. The complex cell chemistry requires further development of cell components and their coordination with each other. The ABTC has developed and patented numerous concepts for this purpose.

Special electrolyte formulations are used to regulate the formation of polysulfides, and carbons form the conductive framework for the conversion of the sulfur. Using solid electrolytes, the solid Li-S battery is also being investigated as a particularly promising cell system. Lithium metal anodes are manufactured, modified and automatically processed in cell assembly. The developments are demonstrated in prototype cells with up to 25 Ah capacity and tested with application-relevant protocols. 

Solid-state electrolytes enable increased safety and a significant increase in energy density through the use of metallic lithium anodes. In particular, solid-state batteries based on sulfide ion conductors are considered a possible successor technology to today's lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications.

Challenges exist at the mechanically/chemically unstable interfaces between electrolyte and electrode materials. At ABTC, innovative approaches to solving these major challenges are being developed and demonstrated in prototype cells. Material innovations include carbon and silicon anodes that enable operation at room temperature without dendrite formation, as demonstrated by initial investigations on pouch cells.

The virtual tour of the Advanced Battery Technology Center (ABTC) in Dresden presents key technologies for tomorrow's battery systems. The focus is on the development of new batteries with higher energy density as well as process technologies for an environmentally friendly and cost-effective production of battery cells with the leading dry film process DRYtraec^®.