Why do I have to charge my phone twice a day?

Aging Mechanisms of Lithium Batteries: How can we make batteries more durable and more sustainable in the future?

Lithium batteries are particularly susceptible to ageing processes. During each charging and discharging process in an electric battery, lithium ions are deposited in the electrodes of the cell like in the pores of a sponge. Over time, however, fractures and cracks occur in the filigree structures. The result: more and more lithium ions no longer fit into the hollow spaces of the “sponge”, instead they accumulate in heaps around the electrodes and hinder the movement of other ions. The performance of the battery decreases.

We present our new project, in which we are developing a fast and cost-effective method with which companies that produce lithium batteries can already assess the ageing behaviour of their batteries in the laboratory.