Cell manufacturing and electrochemical testing of solid-state batteries
Holding a PhD in electrochemistry, materials science, chemistry, or process engineering, the postdoctoral researcher will work closely with project partners on the development of manufacturing processes and prototyping of solid-state battery cells of 4?? generation (Li/NMC high-nickel) and 5?? generation (Li/Sulfur).
The work will focus on electrode shaping and assembly of solid-state cells, using processes such as coating, extrusion, and alternative approaches including 3D printing. These processes will be optimized to produce prototype cells (button cells and pouch format) with capacities up to 1 Ah, incorporating optimized interfaces. The cells will then be electrochemically tested to evaluate performance in terms of specific capacity, coulombic efficiency, and cycling stability.
Most experimental work will be conducted in controlled environments (gloveboxes), with regular characterization of both electrodes and assembled cells. Main responsibilities will include:
- Contributing to the definition of test plans based on internal data and literature,
- Developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for electrodes and solid-state cells,
- Producing and testing Gen4b and Gen5 prototype cells,
- Evaluating electrochemical performance and analyzing results,
- Presenting results clearly and concisely,
- Proposing improvements, ensuring smooth laboratory operations, and adhering to safety and quality standards,
- Disseminating research through publications, scientific presentations,
Study of a low-cost K-ion storage system: electrolyte, safety and prototyping
The UPBEAT project (France 2030) aims to develop a low-cost potassium-ion technology that is free of critical materials and capable of providing the performance of LiFePO4-type Li-ion cells. The work proposed to the post-doc is in line with this objective: it will involve developing optimised organic liquid electrolytes for this new system (Prussian White vs. Graphite), by studying the most promising salts, solvents and additives, while maintaining the objectives of cost and durability. The proposed solutions (with and without fluorine) will be formulated, characterised and electrochemically tested in complete cells (coin cells and pouch cells including components optimisations) to measure their effectiveness in terms of lifetime and power response. Operando measurements and post-mortem characterisations will be used to understand the effects of the various components. The systems that best meet the project's requirements will also be subjected to abuse tests to assess the safety of the final system.
Postdoc in Multi-instrumented operando monitoring of Li-ion battery for ageing
Nowadays, the development of new battery technology requires increasing the knowledge of degradation mechanisms occur inside the cell and monitor the key parameter in real time during cycling to increase the performances, lifetime and safety of the cells. To achieve these goals development of new sensing technology and integration inside and outside the cell is needed. The goal of the SENSIGA project is used advanced sensing technology to improve the monitoring of the cell by acquiring useful data correlate to the degradation process and develop more efficient battery management system with accurate state estimators. SENSIGA is a part of PEPR Batteries lead by CNRS and CEA and funding by the French Research Programme FRANCE 2030 to accelerate the development of new battery technology.
You will have the opportunity to work in a stimulating scientific environment focusing on the characterisation of both state of the art and latest generations of battery materials. Based on the sensing technology developed at CEA and from the state of the art, the SENSIGA project will reach the objective of the BATTERY2030+ roadmap goals for smart cells (https://battery2030.eu/research/roadmap/). One of the objectives of the project is to use external sensors to monitor the key parameters of the cell related to performances, ageing and safety behaviours.
Experimentation and numerical simulation of lithium battery thermal runaway
In the current Energy transition context, the lithium battery is an essential technology to address the strong challenge of the electrical energy storage. However, Li battery severe solicitations/loadings can lead to a thermal runaway phenomenon, which can cause an outbreak of fire, even an explosive combustion of the cell or of the whole battery pack. If this phenomenon is well known, the research and development dedicated to the battery safety is emerging and must be consolidated. The post-doctorate global objective is to develop a numerical modelling and simulation strategy for thermal runaway occurring when a Li battery is subjected to mechanical/thermal/electrical abuse, in order to gain an understanding of the phenomenon, estimate the thermal spreading risk as a result of gas combustion, or study the runaway mechanical consequences (fluid structure interaction). This strategy relies on physical testing campaigns carried out as part of the post-doctorate, and on numerical tools developed by CEA (EUROPLEXUS, Cast3M). The work will be organised into three main content areas: Understanding and modelling of the phenomena on the basis of experimental tests (shock tube, abusive tests), Development of a numerical model representative of identified phenomena, Modelling including fluid-structure interaction (case deformation due to pressure increase).
Optimization of Li metal/electrolyte for the next generation of all-solid-state battery
CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine, created in 2013, set up a new laboratory, since more than two years, focused on both the development of materials and the high throughput screening to accelerate the discovery of materials for the next generations of Li-ion batteries. For that, the CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine acquires different vacuum deposition equipment (sputtering, evaporation, atomic layer deposition) integrated in glovebox and different automated characterization techniques (SEM-EDX, profilometer, XRD, LIBS and confocal microscope later).
The Li metal/electrolyte interface constitutes one of the main challenges to overcome for the next generation of all-solid-state battery. The reactions of decompositions at the interface associated to uneven plating/stripping of Li ions lead to quick cell failure. One of the avenue for stabilizing it is to use a protective layer, which must feature numerous physical-chemical properties. In this context, this internal CEA project aims at setting up a combinatorial synthesis methodology associated to high throughput characterizations in order to accelerate the discovery of new protective layers at the Li metal/electrolyte interface.
We are seeking for an outstanding applicant who will be in charge of setting up the whole methodology, from the synthesis to the physical-chemical-electrochemical characterizations of the materials. She/he will have at her disposal a new state-of-the-art infrastructures. She/he will collaborate with other CEA labs located at LITEN (Grenoble, France).