SMART SENSORS AND SELF-HEALING FUNCTIONALITIES EMBEDDED FOR BATTERY LONGEVITY WITH MANUFACTURABILITY AND ECONOMICAL RECYCLABILITY (SALAMANDER)

火蜥蜴项目的核心概念是开发和集成锂离子电池(LIB)中的嵌入式传感器和自我修复功能，以提高它们的质量、可靠性和寿命。这是通过展示电池中的“智能”方面来实现的，这些方面分析电池自身退化的指标，并独立地对外部刺激做出反应，以触发按需自我修复。为了实现这一目标，该项目提出了三种类型的传感器，具有两种类型的自我修复机制，以抵消发生在典型LIB中的最具威胁性和破坏性的反应。在阳极上，将在其表面印刷一个电阻传感器阵列，以检测硅/碳复合阳极中电极的断裂程度。阳极将嵌入一个自我修复的聚合物网络，该网络在热激活时有助于重新结合硅纳米颗粒。对于阴极，在隔膜上印刷了电化学传感器阵列，以检测LiNiMnCoO2(NMC)阴极中锰的溶解情况。为了防止锰离子严重降解电池，阴极将嵌入热激活的清除物种，以去除这些离子。最后，内部温度传感器有助于控制热激活程度。在每一种退化情况下，传感器与电池管理系统(BMS)进行通信，该系统使用基于物理的模型来触发受控加热以激活自我修复。此外，还将进行生命周期评估，以验证火蜥蜴电池的可回收性，并量化更持久的电池如何抵消制造对环境的影响。因此，尽管该项目的技术预计将在电池和BMS层面产生颠覆性影响，但其设计仍将与现有的制造和回收工艺兼容。因此，这些成果有助于实现电池2030+的目标，实现具有竞争力、可持续的欧洲电池价值链和更循环的经济。

The core concept of the SALAMANDER project is to develop and integrate embedded sensors and self-healing functionality in Li ion batteries (LIB) to enhance their quality, reliability, and lifetime. This is achieved by demonstrating “smart” aspects in the battery which analyze indicators of its own degradation and independently respond with external stimuli to trigger on-demand self-healing. To achieve this goal, the project proposes 3 types of sensors with 2 types of self-healing mechanisms to counteract the most threatening and damaging reactions that occur in a typical LIB. On the anode, a resistance sensor array will be printed onto its surface to sense the degree of electrode fracture in the silicon/carbon composite anode. The anode will be embedded with a self-healing polymer network which upon thermal activation helps re-bind the silicon nanoparticles. For the cathode, an electrochemical sensor array is printed onto the separator to sense the dissolution of Mn from the LiNiMnCoO2 (NMC) cathode. To prevent Mn ions from critically degrading the cell, the cathode will be embedded with heat-activated scavenging species which remove these ions. Lastly, an internal temperature sensor helps control the degree of thermal activation. In each degradation scenario, the sensors communicate with the battery management system (BMS), which uses a physics-based model to trigger controlled heating to activate self-healing. Additionally, a life cycle assessment will be conducted to validate the recyclability of the SALAMANDER battery and quantify how the environmental impact of manufacturing is offset by longer-lasting batteries. Thus, although the project’s technology is anticipated to be disruptive at the cell and BMS levels, its design would remain compatible with existing manufacturing and recycling processes. These outcomes thereby help meet the goal of BATTERY 2030+ for a competitive, sustainable European battery value chain and a more circular economy.