20 doctoral students from the CircularLIB project were able to visit PowerCo in Salzgitter, a company that focuses on the advanced development of battery technology and electromobility not only in Europe. The warm welcome speech by the HR team and a general introduction of PowerCo began with the distribution of memorable Power Socks. We had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the GigaFactory construction site via the bus tour with a detailed guide and explanation. The laboratories and battery test field tour also gave us an insight into the progress of battery testing and Unified Cell's design and manufacturing processes. Followed up with a visit and a comprehensive discussion on the current recycling technologies in the recycling pilot plant, we enjoyed a very informative presentation from technical expert Dr. Juhan Lee, which ended with a great conversation on the current energy storage technologies. The excursion wrapped up with a lively exchange with the colleagues from the analytics lab, the technical expert and the recruitment team. We would like to thank the PowerCo colleagues for the excellent opportunity for an intense talk and exchange in the field of battery technologies! (Shubiao Wu)
As part of CircularLIB, we had the pleasure of visiting H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders in Goslar. We were first given a tour of the tungsten recycling process by site manager Juliane Saupe and plant manager Dr. Claudia Quentmeier. The technological innovations of H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders in recycling were presented and the future capacity expansions of the plant were explained. After the exciting tour and in-depth insight into tungsten recycling technologies, current research and an innovative pilot plant for recycling the black mass of lithium-ion batteries were presented. We would like to thank H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders for the excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge with the recycling industry and to encourage future cooperation. (Raphael Ginster)
Numerous members of the CircularLIB project made significant contributions to the International Battery Production Conference 2023 (IBPC2023). Shubiao Wu, Martin Menzler, Steffen Blömeke, Fernanda Noronha, and Anna Rollin presented their work during presentation sessions, while André Hebenbrock exhibited his findings in the poster session. Several associate doctoral students, among them Niklas Bless, Torben Jennert, and Steffen Fischer, actively participated. The event provided an excellent platform to engage with industry professionals, exchange research ideas, and partake in enriching discussions. (Anna Rollin)
The International Congress on Particle Technology was held in Nuremberg in September this year. This edition was chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arno Kwade and covered 10 different research areas, from nanotechnology to particle simulations, making this conference a great opportunity for exchange in an interdisciplinary environment.
The conference included poster presentations by members of the CircularLIB project. Fernanda Noronha presented the work entitled: "Wet vs. dry mechanical processing in battery recycling: opportunities to improve material recirculation" and Markus Rojer presented "Method establishment for re-synthesis of cathode active material". Special greetings to Markus, who was also part of the organistion team.
(Fernanda Noronha)
On 12 May 2023, the second CircularLIB meeting took place.
This year we were allowed to use the cafeteria of the Fraunhofer IST again. This time, the topic of cooperation was the focus of the PhD students' presentations. They presented the progress of their work and the influence of collaborations on it in individual discussions or presented their collaborations directly in a tandem debate. Afterwards, discussions took place at the individual tables and the presenters received suggestions and assistance, and questions were also asked.
Following the presentations, a workshop on the further development of the Research Training Group took place on various topics. The extensive discussions could also be continued at a concluding evening snack.
I had the privilege of attending the Advanced Battery Power Conference 2023, an exceptional gathering that provided a unique platform for researchers from both national and international backgrounds. The conference showcased a wealth of knowledge with an extensive program comprising 70 talks and over 300 posters, covering a diverse range of contemporary battery topics.
One noteworthy presence at the conference was CircularLIB, represented by several PhD students and a poster at the BLB booth.
I had the opportunity to contribute to the conference by presenting CircularLIB through a poster myself. The interaction and discussions during this session were invaluable, offering a chance to exchange ideas and insights with fellow researchers and industry experts.
A prevalent theme throughout the conference was the growing interest in recycling within the battery industry. The various talks and posters highlighted the significance of sustainable practices and circular economy principles in the development and management of battery technologies.
Overall, the Advanced Battery Power Conference 2023 provided an enriching experience, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among professionals and researchers. The diverse range of topics, combined with the presence of CircularLIB and the emphasis on recycling, made this conference a pivotal event in the field of advanced battery technology. (André Hebenbrock)
On the 16th of June 2022 the first attendance meeting of CircularLIB took place in the cafeteria of the Fraunhofer IST. Professors, doctoral students and group leaders were able to exchange technical information, discover new issues and identify overlaps during the presentations by the doctoral students and the subsequent discussions at the individual tables. At the subsequent joint barbecue all those involved in CircularLIB were able to get to know each other even better in an informal atmosphere and deepen the discussions.
