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Batteries are key to the energy transition - but their development often takes years. The European research project FULL-MAP is relying on artificial intelligence, big data and autonomous synthesis to fundamentally accelerate this process - the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is playing a key role.
"With FULL-MAP, we are ushering in a new era of battery development. By closely linking data, simulation and AI, we are creating a research infrastructure that radically accelerates the discovery and optimisation of battery materials," emphasises Emina Hadzialic, AIT expert
Batteries play a key role in reducing CO₂ emissions in mobility, the energy sector and industry. However, the development of new battery materials is still a lengthy process: it is usually based on traditional, step-by-step trial-and-error methods that often take over a decade. To speed up these processes, new approaches are needed that intelligently combine digital technologies and automation.
This is precisely where the European FULL-MAP research project comes in. The aim is to develop a fully integrated, AI-supported platform to accelerate material and interface development that reflects, digitalises and automates the entire battery development process - from material development to the finished cell and cell testing. Through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, automated synthesis and high-throughput characterisation, battery development is to be raised to a new technological level.
Innovation for a new generation of batteries
FULL-MAP pursues a holistic approach to drastically shorten the time from the development of materials to the use of next-generation batteries. The central project goals are
- Establish an interoperable data framework for structured collection, sharing and reuse of information on battery materials and interfaces.
- Development of flexible design and simulation tools that utilise artificial intelligence and machine learning to derive suitable material structures and configurations from target specifications - such as specific material properties - and simultaneously accelerate complex simulation processes across multiple physical scales.
- Further development of analysis methods and automation of high-throughput characterisation modules and technologies for the fast, reliable and scalable investigation of battery materials and their interfaces.
- Development of AI-controlled, autonomous synthesis robots for the efficient production, testing and data-based further development of novel materials through iterative optimisation processes.
- Strengthening the European research and innovation system and the EU's global competitiveness in the battery sector through international cooperation and effective knowledge transfer.
The AIT: Key role in data management, modelling and simulation
The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is a key research partner in the project and contributes its extensive expertise in the areas of data management, modelling, simulation and digitalisation.
A particular focus is on structuring and standardising the research data generated in the project. AIT develops concepts and supports the dissemination of standardisation guidelines for the efficient collection, storage and transfer of data - always with a view to transparency, quality and interoperability. The aim is to establish a robust data infrastructure that facilitates the exchange of relevant stakeholders and supports knowledge transfer in the long term. AIT will also contribute to the creation of a comprehensive data management plan that defines transparent administrative structures for data ownership, access and utilisation, among other things. This will ensure that data management in the FULL-MAP project is efficient, standardised, structured and compliant with EU requirements to promote seamless research collaboration.
In addition, the AIT is working on the electrical and thermal modelling of battery cells in order to be able to accurately predict their performance in the early stages of development. These models serve as a basis for defining requirements for different applications and specifically evaluating new cell concepts. In addition, the AIT develops automated methods for parameterising battery models, which are validated using experimental data - for greater accuracy and reliability.
In the area of data security and platform integration, AIT, as head of the data management work package, is laying the foundations for the establishment of a platform for the accelerated development of materials and interfaces. In addition, AIT supports the selection of suitable data storage technologies and ensures smooth collaboration across technical, institutional and national boundaries.
About FULL-MAP
FULL-MAP (FULLy integrated, autonomous & chemistry agnostic Materials Acceleration Platform for sustainable batteries) is funded under the European research programme Horizon Europe (grant number: 101192848). The project is coordinated by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and involves more than 30 partner institutions from research, industry and technology development - including leading universities, companies and research centres from all over Europe.
Further information: https: //battery2030.eu/battery2030/projects/full-map/
Project consortium
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (coordinator) | AIT Austrian Institute of Technology | novali | VITO (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek) | Daikin Chemical Europe | KU Leuven | Siemens Industries Software NV (SISW) | Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum (IMEC) | Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen | Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy (VTT) | Centrum pre využitie pokročilých materiálov Slovenskej akadémie vied (CEMEA) | Solvionic | Ceramic Powder Technology AS (CERPOTECH) | Max-Planck-Institut für Nachhaltige Materialien GmbH (MPI-SusMat) | R2M Solution Spain SL | Cellerate Limited | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine | Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) | Ikerlan S. Coop | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Verkor | FEI Electron Optics BV | Thermo Fisher Scientific (Brno) | CeLLife Technologies Oy | QunaSys Denmark ApS | University of Münster | Centre for Process Innovation Limited LBG (CPI) | Excillum AB | Institut Mihajlo Pupin (IMP) | VARTA Innovation GmbH | Siemens AG (Siemens) | CSEM Centre Suisse d'Électronique et de Microtechnique SA - Recherche et Développement
FULL-MAP is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101192848.