Consortium for Battery Innovation researching for advanced batteries

The Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI) has launched a research project using neutron diffraction with an aim to improve the lifetime of energy storage batteries.The project research is being conducted by the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA) in collaboration with EU-based battery company Exide Technologies.

The research project aims to observe the battery's entire crystal structure as it operates, allowing battery experts to control the processes impacting battery life and performance.It will utilize the NG6 cold neutron imaging instrument at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, US) to provide imaging for scientists' European team.

Countries worldwide are looking to reduce carbon emissions, and battery energy storage is a major technology. Any significant development in battery technology can completely step up electric automobiles and various other projects. The battery technology is predicted to grow to 20,000 MWh by 2025. Scientists from INMA, the University of Zaragoza, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Exide Technologies will also collaborate for the study.

The scientists will study the fundamental processes of recharge efficiency and battery electrode failure using a suite of neutron beamline experiments.They will be focusing on battery electrodes, which transfer energy to and from the electrolyte. Neutron diffraction will be used to study the batteries in operation across different duty cycles. There is a massive demand for clean energy storage,and pioneering research will be significant in ensuring advanced lead batteries meet the future technical requirements of these systems.