New Approaches to Develop Enhanced Safety Materials for Gen 3 Li-Ion Batteries for Mobility Applications (Batt4EU Partnership)
HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-02
- Programme
- Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- May 4, 2023
- Deadline
- September 19, 2023
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €8,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €8,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €8,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-02HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02Energy storage
Description
Projects are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:
- Advanced Li-ion batteries with enhanced safety behaviour.
- Advanced materials which lead to improved cyclability (15% increase in cyclability by 2030 compared to 2019 base levels) and operational lifetime (a doubling of lifetime by 2030 compared to 2019 base levels), whilst maintaining competitive performance for cost, energy and power density with state-of-art advanced materials for Li-ion batteries.
- Improved sustainability and recyclability, in line with the recycled content, recycling efficiency and material recovery targets included in the proposed Batteries Regulation[1].
- A defined concept for demonstrable, highly sustainable, circular manufacturing for the selected advanced materials at Gigafactory scale, with sustainability measured in terms of recognised economic, environmental, social and ethical metrics.
- The improvement in safety has to be demonstrated at representative cell level for mobility applications by direct comparison with SOA Gen. 3 cells tested at the beginning of the project.
- A EUCAR Hazard Level of 3 or other equivalent mobility standard should be validated.
This topic aims at developing safer materials for high-performing cells by targeted modification in main cell components, namely the cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte. Solutions to common safety hazards have to be covered through a comprehensive design of new materials for at least three of following components:
- New cathode materials with no exothermal decomposition/reactions, reduced probability for oxygen and other gasses release, and preventing corrosion at current collector. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
- Doping strategies or surface coating materials leading to more robust and effective cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI).
- Design of high-capacity cathode materials based on safer chemistries (e.g. stabilized Li-rich layered oxides, disordered rock salts, polyanionic materials…).
- Design high-voltage cathodes and high voltage anodes in order to combine them in a high energy cell, with sufficiently high operating voltage to avoid stripping/plating of lithium.
- Innovative approaches of cathode structuring to mitigate heat generation, including with toxic gas releases, in abuse conditions.
- New stable anode materials and electrode designs with non-swelling, or low degree of expansion over the whole cell lifetime, with no decomposition/exfoliation, high resistance against Li-dendrite formation – specially at high anode rate capabilities, and favouring the formation of a thermally stable, and low-resistivity SEI. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
- Design and development of new systems with higher standard potential compared to lithium stripping/plating. (High SiOx, Si/C, etc. content).
- Surface coating materials for more robust and effective SEI.
- New approaches to minimize material/anode swelling and expansion during cycling, including anode manufacturing (polymeric and ceramic coating-based approaches, etc.) and structuring the anode-current collector interface.
- New electrolyte formulations with shear thickening, flame retardant and over-charge/discharge properties, maintained high ionic conductivity, broad electrochemical stability i.e., voltage-operating window, and high onset point for Li-dendrite formation, SEI decomposition and CEI effectiveness. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
- (Multi-)functional additives for SEI and CEI stabilisation and protection on anode and cathode such as flame-retardant additives or solvents, ionic conductivity boosters, stability window promoters, etc.
- Addition of selective particles (i.e. oxides, etc.) to hinder mechanical abuse and improve shear thickening behaviour.
- New separator materials with flame retardant and improved ion transport capabilities, high melting point, and mechanical stability
- New binder materials with thermal, mechanical and electrochemical stability (self-healing systems), low ionic and electrical resistance, improved adhesion and cohesion, and preventing swelling and porosity reduction in electrodes.
Projects need to justify the relevance of the selected components which will be addressed and how the new materials, and the combination of them, will lead to better safety outcomes. To the extent possible the safety and sustainability of developed materials should be assessed in alignment with the Commission Recommendation on safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials[2].
Plans for the exploitation and dissemination of results for proposals submitted under this topic should include a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. The exploitation plans should include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan).
In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged, in particular with the USA.
Projects may collaborate and/or contribute to the activities of the Coordination and Support Action defined under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2022-D2-01-08.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Batteries (Batt4EU). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership on Batteries (Batt4EU) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.
[1] COM(2020) 798 final, Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020
[2] Commission Recommendation (EU/2022/2510) establishing a European assessment framework for ‘safe and sustainable by design’ chemicals and materials.
Destination & Scope
This Destination covers thematic areas which are cross-cutting by nature and can provide key solutions for climate, energy and mobility applications. In line with the scope of cluster 5 such areas are batteries, hydrogen[1], communities and cities[2], early-stage breakthrough technologies as well as citizen engagement[3]. Although these areas are very distinct in terms of challenges, stakeholder communities and expected impacts, they have their cross-cutting nature as a unifying feature and are therefore grouped, if not addressed in other places of this work programme, under this Destination.
This Destination contributes to the following Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations (KSO):
- C: Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems;
- A: Promoting an open strategic autonomy[4] by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations;
- D: Creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society, prepared and responsive to threats and disasters, addressing inequalities and providing high-quality health care, and empowering all citizens to act in the green and digital transitions.
It covers the following impact areas:
- Industrial leadership in key and emerging technologies that work for people
- Affordable and clean energy
- Smart and sustainable transport
The expected impact, in line with the Strategic Plan, is to contribute to the “Clean and sustainable transition of the energy and transport sectors towards climate neutrality facilitated by innovative cross-cutting solutions”, notably through:
- Nurturing a world-class European research and innovation eco-system on batteries along the value chain based on sustainable pathways. It includes improvement of technological performance to increase application user attractiveness (in particular in terms of safety, cost, user convenience, fast charging and environmental footprint), in parallel supporting the creation of a competitive, circular, and sustainable European battery manufacturing value chain (more detailed information below).
- Nurturing the development of emerging technologies with high potential to enable zero-greenhouse gas and negative emissions in energy and transport (more detailed information below).
A competitive and sustainable European battery value chain
Batteries will enable the rollout of zero-emission mobility and renewable energy storage, contributing to the European Green Deal and supporting the UN SDGs by creating a vibrant, responsible and sustainable market. Besides climate neutrality, batteries also contribute to other UN SDGs directly and indirectly such as enabling of decentralized and off-grid energy solutions.
The strategic pathway is, on the one hand, for Europe to rapidly regain technological competitiveness in order to capture a significant market share of the new and fast-growing rechargeable battery market, and, on the other hand, to invest in longer term research on future battery technologies to establish Europe's long term technological leadership and industrial competitiveness
The Partnership “Towards a competitive European industrial battery value chain for stationary applications and e-mobility”, with as short name Batt4EU, to which all battery-related topics under this Destination will contribute, aims to establish world-leading sustainable and circular European battery value chain to drive transformation towards a carbon-neutral society.
The main impacts to be generated by topics targeting the battery value chain under this Destination are:
- Increased global competitiveness of the European battery ecosystem through generated knowledge and leading-edge technologies in battery materials, cell design, manufacturing and recycling.
- Significant contribution to the policy needs of the European Green Deal through new solutions for circularity and recycling of batteries.
- Accelerated growth of innovative, competitive and sustainable battery manufacturing industry in Europe.
- Development of sustainable and safe technologies and systems for decarbonisation of transport and stationary applications.
- Contributing to the strategic independence of Europe through investigation of alternative battery chemistries using non-critical raw materials and efficient recycling technologies.
- Increasing synergies with other partnerships and initiatives.
Emerging breakthrough technologies and climate solutions
Although the contribution of a wide range of technologies to reach climate neutrality is already foreseeable, EU R&I programming should also leave room for emerging and break-through technologies with a high potential to achieve climate neutrality. These technologies can play a significant role in reaching the EU’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050.
Relevant topics supported under this Destination complement the activities supported under Pillars I or III. They address emerging technologies that can enable the climate transition with a technology-neutral bottom-up approach. Research in this area is mostly technological in nature but should also, where relevant, be accompanied by assessments of environmental, social and economic impacts, by identification of regulatory needs, and by activities supporting the creation of value chains to build up new ecosystems of stakeholders working on breakthrough technologies.
The main expected impacts to be generated by the topic targeting breakthrough technologies and climate solutions under this Destination are:
- Emergence of unanticipated technologies enabling emerging zero-greenhouse gas and negative emissions in energy and transport;
- Development of high-risk/high return technologies to enable a transition to a net greenhouse gas neutral European economy.
[1] The bulk of activities are supported by the Institutional Partnership ‘Clean Hydrogen’.
[2] Communities and cities are mainly supported under the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, and through the co-funded Partnership ‘Driving Urban Transition’, implemented in this work programme as a grant to identified beneficiary.
[3] Citizens engagement as well as social sciences and humanities are mainstreamed across multiple topics across various Destinations in this work programme.
[4] ‘Open strategic autonomy’ refers to the term ‘strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy’, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council 1 – 2 October 2020.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
2. Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
3. Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
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Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
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Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
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Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1)
MGA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
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The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
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Latest Updates
The call for proposals HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02 closed on 19/09/2023. 36 proposals were submitted to the call. The breakdown per topic is:
HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-01 (IA): 12 proposals
HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-02 (RIA): 19 proposals
HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-03 (IA): 5 proposals
Following an update in topic HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-03, the call deadline for call HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02 (all three topics) has been extended from 05/09/2023 to 19/09/2023.
Following an update in topic HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-03, the call deadline for call HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02 (all three topics) has been extended from 05/09/2023 to 19/09/2023.