BASF creates fresh impetus for electrochemistry
At a kick-off meeting in Ludwigshafen, BASF and its partners today launched the research network electrochemistry and batteries.
- (1888PressRelease) August 13, 2010 - The declared aim is to jointly address fundamental questions relating to materials, components and systems for electromobility and electricity storage.
* Company establishes international competence network with outstanding experts from academic research
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R&D network wants to address fundamental questions relating to battery systems for electromobility
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BASF's commitment in the national consortium HE Lion continues and benefits from the results
“In developing the future battery generations, we want to further intensify our activities and thereby consolidate our strong position,” is how Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and Research Executive Director, explains this broadened commitment. One main focus of these activities will be on developing new materials and functional components for future battery types such as lithium sulfur and lithium air batteries.
Academic founding members of the research network are Professor Jürgen Janek of Gießen University, Professor Hubert Gasteiger of Munich Technical University, Professor Petr Novak of the Paul-Scherrer Institute in Villigen (Switzerland) and Professor Doron Aurbach of the Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Leading worldwide electrochemistry and battery experts have therefore been brought on board to pursue these common objectives. The R&D network is a long-term project and will be expanded by including further international partners in the next few years.
“BASF is contributing its long experience with the development and implementation of electrochemical processes to the new network”, explains Dr. Andreas Fischer, head of the electrochemistry research area. BASF is one of the few chemical companies to continuously pursue electrochemical research over the last few decades and can now draw upon the combined expertise of around 40 R&D employees in this field.
“Together with BASF, we want to further enhance our understanding of the interplay between the different components of the battery systems of the future,” is how Professor Jürgen Janek describes the cooperation. Together with BASF's experts, the partners from academic research will develop new concepts, components and materials for lithium sulfur and lithium air batteries which will then be tested in an overall system. The company's laboratories offer extensive scope for optimizing the performance of innovative battery cells and for testing their feasibility in pilot scale manufacture.
Concurrently with the new academic R&D network, BASF is continuing its commitment as consortium manager in the publicly sponsored project HE Lion. This cross-sector consortium comprising eight companies and ten research or university institutes was launched in March 2009 as part of the LIB 2015 Initiative of the Germany Federal Ministry of Research (BMBF). This BMBF initiative aims to bring to market by 2015 higher performing, safe and affordable lithium ion batteries for future propulsion systems such as plug-in hybrid cars. BASF's battery experts have also recognized that for long-term success it is essential to act immediately to intensify the fundamental research activities for future battery generations. The existing projects will also benefit from the results generated by the new network.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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