Introductory description

This is a Li-ion battery cell focused module for MSc in Sustainable Automotive Electrification (new course). In this module following topics will be covered:

1. Electrochemistry fundamentals and Li-ion battery fundamentals
2. Chemistry of electrode Active Materials; Crystallography of Battery Active Materials including Advanced X-ray studies of batteries
3. Lab demonstration & lecturing: Electrode fabrication and Cell fabrication
4. Electrode and cell optimization
5. Battery degradation and Machine learning based battery manufacturing and degradation
6. Battery Testing Focused Towards Safety Evaluation
7. Next generation batteries beyond Li-ion and focused Na-ion Batteries: from Materials to Cell Development
8. Lab demonstration & lecturing: Microscopy and Battery forensics
9. Syndicate exercise (Group work) to develop battery pack for a target application and presentation

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Battery fundamentals: key terminologies, lithium-ion battery components, functions, and operation principles.
2. Electrochemical principles of energy storage in batteries: thermodynamics, kinetics and mass transport.
3. Energy storage materials: chemistry of cathode and anode active materials
4. Manufacturing processes: synthesis method of energy storage materials; fabrication method of battery cells; recycling processes of lithium-ion battery valuable materials
5. Degradation mechanisms of Lithium-ion batteries
6. Lecture on mixing and coating (battery electrode manufacturing); battery cell fabrication; and battery forensics.
7. 1 lab demonstration session: electron microscopy (characterization of energy storage materials);

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate conceptual analysis of electrochemical working principles of Li-ion batteries [AHEP7; M2, M4, M5]
• Evaluate different energy storage materials for battery cell design and manufacturing [AHEP7; M3, M4, M7]
• Comprehensively interpret battery cell degradation mechanisms and recycling processes [AHEP7; M4, M7]
• Interpret the assembling and manufacturing processes of Li-ion battery cells [AHEP7; M4, M17]
• Independently evaluate battery cell testing results [AHEP7; M3, M4, M5]

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Interdisciplinary

Electrochemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Subject specific skills

Electrochemical principles of Lithium-ion batteries including thermodynamics, kinetics and mass transport.
Chemistry of energy storage materials and how to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of various anode and cathode materials for applications.
Key battery degradation mechanisms and the safety issues raised from battery degradation.
Recycling methods and processes for battery cells and valuable materials inside cells.
Battery cell manufacturing from electrode mixing and coating to cell assembly, and battery cell characterization techniques.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking; Problem solving; Self-awareness; Communication; Teamwork and working effectively with others; Information literacy (research skills); Digital literacy; Sustainability; Professionalism;