The University of Birmingham is to start the £6 million formation, ageing, and sustainability testing (FAST) project to reduce manufacturing time and energy consumption for lithium-ion batteries.
The FAST research project, which has finding from the Faraday Institute, will focus on the last stages of the production of a battery cell.
The project will initially focus on high nickel NMC cathodes paired with graphite or graphite-silicon anodes.
Formation, ageing and testing (FA&T) helps to create the protective layers inside the battery. The quality of these layers affects how long the battery lasts, how much energy it can hold, and how safe it is to use.
FA&T takes up a disproportionate amount of energy usage, cost, time taken and floor space in a manufacturing facility.
The researchers said improving this area would influence industrial innovation and commercial viability.
They will focus on manufacturing single-layer and multi-layer pouch cells as well as new formation protocols to reduce energy and cost.
The FAST project will involve collaboration with the universities of Warwick, Cambridge, Nottingham, and Oxford, alongside four industry partners and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).
The FAST projects are expected to run until September 2028, with further funding confirmation anticipated in early 2026.
Professor Emma Kendrick, project leader, University of Birmingham, said, “This project represents a pivotal step in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. By deepening our understanding of battery formation and ageing, we can unlock new efficiencies and sustainability gains that will benefit the entire battery supply chain.”
Image: A lithium-ion pouch cell, which is one of the focuses of the FAST project.
