Block Course 2025

Scope

The lectures of the Block Course "Materials, Functioning and Technology of Batteries" cover the full spectrum of electrochemical energy storage and conversion, from theory to engineering and from fundamentals to applications.

Poster sessions and social events like lab tours, joint dinners offer ideal conditions to connect to other young researchers in the field.
 

Target Group

The Block Course of the GS-EES is open to all interested PhD, master students and post-docs, no matter at which institution they are enrolled. Registration can be done for each part individually.

Preliminary schedule

Part 1

Part 2

Preliminary contents of lectures

Part 1

M. Fichtner
General Intro and Electrode Materials

Considerations on (electrical) energy storage and the role of batteries in the energy transition, principles of (Li-ion) batteries, cathode and anode materials.

R.J. Behm
Surfaces / Interfaces

Fundamentals of surfaces and interfaces (thermodynamics, structures, kinetics of surface processes) and how they relate to batteries.

Electrode - Electrolyte Interactions

Fundamentals and model studies on interactions between electrodes and electrolytes, XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy).

L. Jörissen
Fuel Cells

Introduction to fuel cells and their use in mobile applications.

A. Groß
Atomistic Perspective

Quantum chemical description, DFT (Density Functional Theory).

C. Punckt
Good Scientific Practice

Introduction to Good Scientific Practice

J. Mirbeth
Ethics in Publishing

Considerations of potential problems regarding the scientific publication process. Introduction to open access publishing.

M. Marinaro
From Materials to Cells

Fundamental considerations regarding the transition from the materials level to the cell level.

Mg/Ca Batteries

Introduction to electrode materials, electrolytes, promises and challenges of Mg- and Ca- (ion) batteries as bivalent post-Lithium batteries.

Part 2

M. Kamlah
Phase-field and Particle Based Modeling

Phase-field modeling of the interaction of diffusion and mechanics in electrode particles of batteries. Discrete element and Resistor Network modeling of transport and mechanics in granular electrodes.

C. Kranz + R. Schuster
Electrochemical Characterization Techniques and their Physicochemical Principles

Challenges and requirements in characterization of battery processes, general introduction to characterization techniques, fundamentals of electrochemistry fundamentals, widespread electrochemical methods cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), glimpse of electrochemical microcalorimetry and Scanning electrochemical probe microscopy.

H. Ehrenberg
Diffraction and Tomography

Fundamentals and application in battery research of diffraction and tomography methods based on x-rays and neutron.

Aqueous Battery Systems

Introduction to the still widely used lead acid battery and alkaline batteries.

D. Bresser
Electrolytes

Fundamentals of electrolytes (mass transfer, diffusion, migration, conductance, mobility). Examples beyond “common” liquid electrolytes like solid ion conductors and ionic liquids.

C. Kübel
Microscopy

Introduction to (electron) microscopy methods and their application in battery research.

C. Ziebert
Battery Safety

Testing of battery safety (mostly using calorimetry), heat generation during normal use and abuse.

J. Fleischer
Production of Batteries Fleischer

Steps of battery production from electrode manufacturing, cell assembly to module and pack production. The lecture is given in a research factory so that there is insight into the production steps in a research set-up for flexible battery production.

F. Jeschull
Sulfur and Potassium Batteries

Introduction to electrode materials, electrolytes, promises and challenges of sulfur and - potassium batteries.

M. Weil
Sustainability analysis of batteries

Social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. Life cycle assessment of different batteries.

A. Hofmann
Na batteries

Na Introduction to electrode materials, electrolytes, promises and challenges of Na (ion) batteries.

Registration

Join our Block Course and register before 26th January 2025

You can register for each part individually

Dates and Venue

Part 1
24th to 28th February 2025
Ulm University
89081 Ulm
Germany

Part 2
7th to 11th April 2025
KIT
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany

Costs

The Block Course is free of charge for GS-EES members and master students related to CELEST.
If you are uncertain whether you can participate free of charge, please get in touch with us.

The fee for external participants is 170 € per part.
It includes snacks, cold and warm beverages during coffee breaks and two times dinner.

Accomodation

Accomodation is not included.

Contact

In case of any questions related to the Block Course, please email Johannes Schnaidt or call +49 (0)731 50 34506.

Impressions of previous years