Solutions to common safety hazards have to be covered through a comprehensive design of new materials for at least three of following components:

• New cathode materials with no exothermal decomposition/reactions, reduced probability for oxygen and other gasses release, and preventing corrosion at current collector. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
  • Doping strategies or surface coating materials leading to more robust and effective cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI).
  • Design of high-capacity cathode materials based on safer chemistries (e.g. stabilized Li-rich layered oxides, disordered rock salts, polyanionic materials…).
  • Design high-voltage cathodes and high voltage anodes in order to combine them in a high energy cell, with sufficiently high operating voltage to avoid stripping/plating of lithium.
  • Innovative approaches of cathode structuring to mitigate heat generation, including with toxic gas releases, in abuse conditions.
• New stable anode materials and electrode designs with non-swelling, or low degree of expansion over the whole cell lifetime, with no decomposition/exfoliation, high resistance against Li-dendrite formation – specially at high anode rate capabilities, and favouring the formation of a thermally stable, and low-resistivity SEI. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
  • Design and development of new systems with higher standard potential compared to lithium stripping/plating. (High SiOx, Si/C, etc. content).
  • Surface coating materials for more robust and effective SEI.
  • New approaches to minimize material/anode swelling and expansion during cycling, including anode manufacturing (polymeric and ceramic coating-based approaches, etc.) and structuring the anode-current collector interface.
• New electrolyte formulations with shear thickening, flame retardant and over-charge/discharge properties, maintained high ionic conductivity, broad electrochemical stability i.e., voltage-operating window, and high onset point for Li-dendrite formation, SEI decomposition and CEI effectiveness. Development can include the following approaches/strategies at different levels:
  • (Multi-)functional additives for SEI and CEI stabilisation and protection on anode and cathode such as flame-retardant additives or solvents, ionic conductivity boosters, stability window promoters, etc.
  • Addition of selective particles (i.e. oxides, etc.) to hinder mechanical abuse and improve shear thickening behaviour.
• New separator materials with flame retardant and improved ion transport capabilities, high melting point, and mechanical stability
• New binder materials with thermal, mechanical and electrochemical stability (self-healing systems), low ionic and electrical resistance, improved adhesion and cohesion, and preventing swelling and porosity reduction in electrodes.