Opportunity Issue 106

CSIR
ENERGY
CENTRE
FACT SHEET
Electrochemical Energy Technologies
Introduction
The CSIR electrochemical energy technologies research group focuses on developing
new materials-based technologies for energy storage systems, and demonstrating these
technologies to enable new industrial activity through manufacturing of such materials
and systems. Specific areas of focus are on manganese- and nickel- rich cathode
materials, as well as titanium- and silicon- based anode materials. The group also has
skills in the beyond lithium-ion battery electrode materials; platinum group metals
(PGM) and non-PGM-based electrocatalysts for fuel cells and electrolysers. New
materials afford new opportunities that benefit their respective sectors for mobile,
stationary and other power applications.
Value proposition
The group accelerates and unlocks the beneficiation of South Africa’s manganese and
PGM resources by localising electrode material for energy storage and conversion
with a better cost-to-performance ratio.
In addition, it pursues value-creating opportunities in other minerals to leverage
CSIR skills, existing assets and experience to enhance value delivery for clients.
Services offered
• Analysis of energy storage and conversion technologies and cost, as well as
recommendations on potential best-fit options for the application. Such assessments
include the role of energy storage, fuel cells and electrolysers, while considering storage
duration, performance, cost projections and decommissioning and disposal options.
• Testing of energy storage and conversion materials.
• Testing of battery cells (at present < 6 V, with the possibility of testing larger cells
in the future).
• Testing of fuel cell and electrolyser cells (up to four cells).
• Characterisation of electrochemical properties of the materials (batteries,
supercapacitors, fuel cells, electrolysers and carbon dioxide reduction).
Infrastructure
Laboratories
• General lab for synthesis, wet chemistry, thermal processing, microwave processing, material
handling and coin cell manufacturing
• Small lab with Argon glove box and X-ray diffractometer
• Small lab for battery testing
• Facility for pouch-cell manufacturing
Equipment:
• General synthesis (litre-scale glassware, heating, mixing, stirring, analytical scales)
• Various ½L to 2L autoclaves
• Laminar LCR Tera 3100 (Taylor reactor) for co-precipitation with controlled feed, agitation,
temperature and pH
• 50mm and 80 mm tube furnace, muffle furnace, 2 large furnaces (ca. 30-150 L)
• Anton Paar Synthos 3 000 microwave reactor and custom-made microwave drum reactor
• 1 x one-person and 1 x two-person glove box
• Rigaku Ultima IV powder X-Ray Diffractometer
• MTI mini-lab for coin cell manufacturing (ball mill, coating table, vacuum oven, roller press,
electrode disc punch, crimping press).
• Pouch cell equipment (litre scale ball mill, high-shear vacuum stirrer, coating table, electrode
die cutter, stacker, sealing machine).
• Maccor coin cell testers (1 x 96 channel, 1 x 48 channel)
Other equipment at the National Centre of Nano-Structured Materials
Scanning electron microscope; transmission electron microscope; thermogravimetric
analysis; differential scanning calorimetry; Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, etc.
• CAPABILITIES IN BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES
• CAPABILITIES IN HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELLS TECHNOLOGIES
CONTACT PERSON:
Mmalewane Modibedi : mmodibedi@csir.co.za