EMPA

Empa – Laboratory Materials for Energy Conversion

Empa is an interdisciplinary research institute of the ETH Domain, conducting cutting-edge research on materials science and technology for the benefit of industry and the well-being of society. The laboratory Materials for Energy Conversion focuses on materials and device innovation for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies.

Competences range from the synthesis and characterization of battery materials and their integration in lab-scale prototype cells including next-generation lithium-ion battery cells and future-generation lithium-ion batteries (e.g. with lithium metal anodes, cobalt-free cathodes, solid electrolytes, etc). The lab disposes of an extensive infrastructure for materials synthesis and modification, slurry processing, electrode coating, cell assembly, and characterization of their structural, electrochemical, and thermal properties.

The lab offers services in the following areas:

• Battery materials synthesis, modification, and characterization
• Development of electrode coating processes
• Assembly and operando characterization of lab-scale battery cells

The lab is collaborating with a large network of industrial partners in national and European projects. It serves as the coordinator of the European project sense-battery.eu, and as Swiss representative and contact point for the large-scale European battery initiative battery2030.eu. The lab also represents Switzerland in Batteries Europe.

Synthesis and processing of battery materials and electrodes

Synthesis and processing of battery materials and electrodess​

Structural, electrochemical, and thermal characterization of battery materials and cells

Structural, electrochemical, and thermal characterization of battery materials and cells

Empa – Reliability Center

The Reliability Center operates a knowledge and equipment pool to perform research, tests and inspections for industry, academic institutions and public authorities.

It is an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditated testing laboratory (STS 0059) for physical qualification, reliability investigations, non­destructive testing and analysis of materials, components and systems.

• Reliability: Reliability and failure analysis; preparation of development guidelines; performance of qualification tests
• Knowledge transfer: Lecturing at the ETH on reliability of equipment and     systems, and on physics of failure and failure analysis of electronic circuits;  organisation of conferences and courses
• Research: Leading and collaborating in national and international research projects

Battery Research Lab

• Research on battery degradation as a function of calendar life, temperature, SOC, amplitude of cycling, stress cycling profiles
• Optimization of charging strategies
• Optimization of battery lifetime under harsh environmental conditions
• Testing and non-destructive electrical characterzation, testing, measurement and
• simulation of thermal and mechanical behaviour to optimize lifetime
• Battery safety testing according to UN, UL, ECE, IEC, ISO standards
• Development of safe batteries and battery management systems
• Post degradation and post mortem analysis of battery materials

Cell testing, cell power profile derived from WLTP drive cycle​

500kW Battery Tester

FIB cross-section of NCM cathode

EDX of NCM cell showing composition of cathode materials

Safety testing of batteries