You are here : Home > Strategic Research > Batteries

Batteries

​​​

Published on 12 March 2024

​​


​

​​Small, yet powerful​

​Batteries are the pillars of zero-carbon mobility and electricity grid flexibility. Our research is pushing back the limits of battery chemistries, improving performance, and reducing environmental impacts to speed up the energy transition. We have also formed partnerships with key battery and mobility stakeholders in France and Europe to develop tomorrow’s batteries and support clean mobility.

Electric mobility creates some major challenges for batteries, from energy and power density to service life, cost, and safety. And even more new demands have emerged in recent years, with the market increasingly on the lookout for low-environmental-impact batteries that can be integrated into a low-carbon energy mix. Batteries will be vital to tomorrow’s energy system, providing crucial support to the grid.

Our expertise spans the entire battery value chain, from materials and systems to electrodes, cells, and recycling. The purpose of our research is to bring our partners the innovative technologies and processes they need. To this end, we are developing new generations of safer, higher-performance batteries with lower environmental impacts and costs. All-solid-state and organic batteries are two examples. Li-ion batteries still own the lion’s share of the market. But Na-ion, K-ion, and other new battery technologies are creating new opportunities for a cleaner transportation industry. Our research addresses all these technologies.



​More details​

​

NM, FP, and future generations​

​

Nickel manganese cobalt (NM)-graphite and lithium iron phosphate (FP)-graphite are the two main solutions we are currently focusing on. To optimize these systems, we are actively seeking improvements and investigating the best possible combinations of components. We are also targeting certain identified technological hurdles, including those surrounding all-solid-state materials like lithium metal and lithium sulfur. Identifying high-performance technologies that do not require critical materials is another one of our research focuses. And, of course, the solutions we develop are designed with optimal safety in mind.​



​
​

Performance and environmental considerations

Energy density, power density, service life, and vehicle range are important. However, reducing critical materials and costs are also top concerns today. We consider how to limit the environmental impacts of Li-ion batteries as we strive to improve their energy and power densities. Our research focuses on improving our understanding of the multiple factors that influence both operating safety and service life. Our efforts to improve performance go together with our ability to guarantee end-to-end sustainability. We have formed partnerships with companies like Solvay Umicore, Saft, ACC, Orano, and Stellantis on these topics.

​System optimization

We possess three decades of experience researching battery chemistry and have built battery partnerships with academic research labs and manufacturers to bring a holistic, system-level approach to the development of new chemistries for electric transportation and other market needs. We believe that the right solution starts with the right battery. Our battery system design activities focus on selecting the best cells in terms of chemistry, format, and size. We also look at mechanical, electrical, and thermal integration and battery management systems (BMS) appropriate to the target use cases. Battery management electronics now have a major impact on battery lifespans. We are developing sensors and electronics to measure batteries’ state of charge and health in real time. These solutions are also designed to prevent dangerous electrochemical reactions and facilitate maintenance.

​
​​

New generations of batteries

All-solid-state batteries are one of the avenues we are exploring for a new generation of safer, higher-performance batteries. Our research spans solvent-free electrode production processes, hybrid and solid electrolytes, and higher-capacity lithium-metal negative electrodes.

Our strength: a holistic, system-level approach to batteries. When it comes to battery research, each component can be addressed by specific solutions that can make a big difference individually. However, we know that the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. Our big-picture thinking positions us to support our partners at every stage in the process, leveraging the right skills and knowledge to achieve our shared objectives.​




​​