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R&D

Energy Storage Systems Group

The Energy Storage Systems Group, operating under TÜBİTAK RUTE Alternative Energy Technologies Department, designs, develops and manufactures battery components (anode, cathode and electrolyte) and battery prototypes of secondary batteries. In addition to material, cell, battery module and battery pack development activities, the Energy Storage Systems Group operates to meet both its own research and development processes and the needs of the industry thanks to its competent and extensive testing infrastructure. In order to reduce dependence on battery raw materials, it carries out many R&D activities such as cobalt-reduced electrode, cell production from recycled materials, design and production of high energy density cells, development of new generation anode and cathode chemistries, solid state electrolyte studies. It conducts extensive testing for primary and secondary lithium ion batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, lead acid batteries, gel batteries and many next generation storage technologies. It also provides consultancy and testing services (according to TSE/EN standards) to public and private organizations/companies for innovative electrochemical storage solutions.

R&D

Purposes and Objectives

Purposes

  • To produce R&D solutions that meet the needs of our stakeholders,
  • Create battery formulas with different features in strategic areas,
  • Meet the pilot-scale production and testing needs of the battery ecosystem.

Objectives

  • To design and develop environmentally friendly battery cells with high energy density, reducing raw material dependence.
  • To develope methods to increase the safety levels of batteries and to conduct R&D studies on highly reliable battery chemistries.
  • To pioneer the development of next-generation battery technologies and lead our country's efforts in this field.

Working Areas

  • Active Material Development
  • High Energy Density Cell and Component Development
  • Next Generation Anode and Cathode Chemistries
  • Next Generation Energy Storage Technologies Like Sodium Ion Batteries
  • Solid State Cell Development
  • High-Voltage Electrolyte Compatibility
  • 3D Current Collectors
  • Fast Charging
  • Cell Production from Recycled Materials
  • Cell Design and Production using Reduced-Cobalt Cathode Chemistry
  • Li-Ion Pouch-Type and Prismatic Cell Design
  • Production of Pouch Type and Prismatic Type Cells at Pilot Scale
  • Tests Conducted for Different Battery Technologies (Lithium-Ion Batteries, Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries, Lead-Acid Batteries, etc.)
  • Comprehensive Electrical Testing for Cells of Different Geometries (Button, Cylindrical, Pouch, Prismatic)
  • Battery Module and Pack Level Electrical Performance Tests
  • Life and Storage Tests
  • Customer Defined Electrical Performance Tests
  • Electrical Performance Tests in Different Temperature and Humidity Conditions
  • AC and DC Internal Resistance Measurements for Cells, Modules, and Battery Packs
  • Cell Level Security Tests (Nail Penetration Test, Crush Test, Short Circuit Test and Impact Test)
  • Vacuum and Helium Tightness Tests
  • Consultancy Services

Infrastructure

TÜBİTAK RUTE Battery R&D and Test Centre Laboratory, established on an area of approximately 1,150 square metres, has the necessary equipment for the production of pilot-sized lithium-ion batteries as well as meeting the basic research needs for electrical energy storage systems. It also has devices and equipment for the certification and testing of batteries in accordance with international standards. The laboratories operating in the existing infrastructure are listed below:

  • Active Material Development Laboratory
  • Anode, Cathode and Electrolyte Development Laboratory
  • Electrochemical Characterization Laboratory
  • Design and Control Systems Laboratory
  • Prototype [Electrode, Pouch Battery and Cylindrical Battery] Development Laboratory
  • Prototype (Prismatic Battery) Development Laboratory
  • Electrical Test Systems Laboratory
  • Safety Test Systems Laboratory

Projects/Products

  • Developed Batteries
    • Pouch type Battery
    • Prismatic Battery
  • Battery Modules Developed
    • 2 Series 2 Parallel Battery Module
    • 12 Series 2 Parallel Battery Module
    • 3 Series 2 Parallel Battery Module
    • 7 Series 8 Parallel Battery Module
  • Battery Packs Developed
    • 1 kWh Battery Pack
    • 5 kWh Battery Pack
  • Developing Battery Management Systems (BMS)
    • Stand-alone Battery Management System
    • Battery Management System

At TÜBİTAK RUTE Battery R&D and Test Center Laboratory, equipment and necessary tools for active material development activities include a mixer, ball mill, grinder, tube furnace, melting furnace, ash furnace, hydraulic press, reactor, microwave, and more. For laboratory-scale electrode production, there are a mixer, coating machine (coater), and calender. Additionally, for the production of button batteries, there are two glove boxes and essential equipment.

Intensive efforts are underway to develop the production process for anode and cathode electrode production, as well as subsequent battery production. In the existing pilot-scale electrode production line, there are two separate mixers with a capacity of 5 liters each, a coating machine, and a calender for preparing anode and cathode slurries. A kinematic viscosity device is available for measuring the fluidity of anode and cathode slurries. With the pilot-scale electrode (anode / cathode) production line, electrode production at a speed of 0.5 meters per minute and a width of 15 cm can be achieved.

At TÜBİTAK RUTE Battery R&D and Test Center Laboratory, the pilot-scale pouch-type battery production infrastructure is located within a dry room. In the pouch-type lithium-ion battery pilot production line, equipment such as electrode sizing, electrode stacking, pressing, pouch forming, pole assembly, three-sided sealing, electrolyte filling, and final sealing devices are available. Battery sizes (mm) of 70*120 and 100*150, with a thickness of up to 12mm, and a capacity of 1-20 Ah pouch-type lithium-ion batteries are produced on the production line. Electrolyte production can also be conducted within the existing dry room.

In addition to the pilot-scale electrode production and pouch-type battery production infrastructure, there is also a dry and clean room infrastructure located in a dry room meeting standards of -65 °C dew point, humidity level (RH) < 0.05%, and Class 10,000 cleanroom. In the current prismatic battery production line, equipment such as electrode winding, pressing, ultrasonic welding, winding placement, laser welding, leak testing, electrolyte filling, wetting, pre-charging, and final sealing devices are available. The production line allows for the production of prismatic-type batteries in the range of 3–60 Ah capacity.

R&D

Battery Test Systems Infrastructure

TÜBİTAK RUTE Battery R&D and Test Center Laboratory, where studies on battery material development, battery prototype development, and electrochemical characterization are conducted, has established the necessary infrastructure for applying electrochemical tests to batteries in compliance with national and international standards. The battery test systems in our infrastructure are as follows:
  • Battery Test System: 2-channel, 600V-600A
  • Battery Test System: 1,200V-800A
  • Battery Test System: 10-channel, 72V-200A
  • Battery Test System: 40-channel, 6V-50A
  • Battery Test System: 8-channel, 5V-1mA button battery tester
    • 56-channel, 5V-10mA button battery tester
    • 8-channel, 5V-3A button cell-cylindrical battery tester
    • 24-channel, 5V-20mA button battery tester
    • 24-channel, 5V-20A pouch - cylindrical - prismatic battery tester
    • 16-channel, 10V-10A pouch - cylindrical - prismatic battery tester
    • 24-channel, 5V-50A pouch battery tester
    • 16-channel, 5V-100A pouch battery tester
  • First Charging System: 10-channel, 6V-20A prismatic battery test system
  • Potentiostat-galvanostat
  • AC Internal Resistance Meter
  • Thermal Shock Cabinet
  • Climatic Chambers
  • Cell Formation System
  • Helium tightness tester
  • Vacuum tightness tester
  • Safety Test Devices (Puncture Test, Crush Test, Short Circuit Test, and Impact Test)
  • Button Type Cell Production and Test Equipment