CSEM

CSEM – Battery Systems

CSEM is a Swiss research and technology organization (RTO) with +35 years of technology development and transfer to industry. This activity has accelerated innovation, particularly in the strategic fields of digitalization, precision manufacturing, and sustainable energy.

For battery systems, the knowhow and expertise ranges from technology characterization, over system design and optimization to prototyping and product development. Application domains focus on stationary storage solutions and include all domains related to grid integration of storage systems, also including vehicle-to-grid applications, as well as technologies that enable or facilitate second-life usage.

The CSEM battery team offers services in the following areas:

• Battery performance characterization, including aging tests
• Li-ion cell modelling (e.g. ECM, SPM, empirical models)
• Sensing and associated algorithm development
• Design and development of Battery Management Systems (BMS)
• Design and development of Energy Management Systems (EMS)
• Techno-economic investment appraisals of battery-powered applications

For the performance characterization the laboratory infrastructure of the Energy Storage Research Center ESReC located in Biel and Neuchâtel is used (see also www.esrec.swiss) whereas for the other activities different laboratories and data processing infrastructures are available in Neuchâtel.

Performance characterization of cells in different form factors

Performance characterization of cells in different form factors​

BMS development: prototyping and verification

BMS development: prototyping and verification

CSEM – Coating for batteries

CSEM possesses a strong technological offer in the field of nano-coatings and functional surfaces. Our know-how regarding surface and interfacial modification is well established and highly appreciated by our industrial customers.

These competences are well supported by our characterization capabilities as well as our equipment and infrastructure for thin film deposition. Specifically, for battery applications, several coating processes, whether wet (spin-, spray-, slot-die or blade-coating, sol-gel formulation, mesoporous coatings) or vacuum based (ALD, PVD, MVD) can be used to improve battery performances for example by working on separator or electrode components. CSEM also possesses know-how of surface functionalization and interfacial engineering, recognized as keys for improving the performance, stability, and even safety of batteries. To validate such developments, coin cells can be fabricated to investigate the influence of material properties on the cell-level performances. Characterization of the electrochemical performance of the coatings (cyclic voltammetry) is notably available, while coin cell characterization is done by using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to observe transfer proprieties of electrodes and separators.

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