In the latest phase of our project, the team at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) site has successfully reached a key milestone within the project Phoenix. The primary mission was two-fold: 

1. Optimising the internal architecture of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes and gas scavenging Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)-integrated separators
2. Ensuring that these high-performance materials are available for testing across the entire project consortium.

The technical focus was centered on the refinement of core-shell structures. By successfully introducing a tungsten oxide interlayer into the NMC architecture, one of the most persistent challenges in battery chemistry has been addressed in Work Package 2 (Task 2.2):

• The trade-off between energy and endurance. 

This tungsten modification acts as a stabilising buffer, and our latest tests confirm that it leads to significantly higher cycling stability while the core-shell leads to an increased specific capacity. Detailed results on this finding have been shared with the scientific community and are now available in our latest publication (DOI: 10.3390/batteries12030082).

At DLR, we are also pushing the boundaries of lithium-ion battery (LIB) longevity. As part of our latest work in Work Package 2 (Task 2.4), our team has successfully developed and integrated specialised Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)—including Ni-MOF and Zr-MOF—directly into battery separators. As batteries age and cycle, they often “outgas,” producing byproducts like Hydrogen (H2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Oxygen (O2). If left unmanaged, these gases degrade performance and shorten the battery’s lifespan. PHOENIX “smart” separators do more than just sit inside the battery cell. They actively enhance Li-ion transport while acting as a chemical sponge to absorb and store evolved gases. By neutralizing these harmful byproducts, we are effectively shielding the battery from internal wear and tear, leading to a significantly improved life cycle. Beyond the initial research and development, a part of DLRs role was the synthesis of these materials at scale. It has been moved from small-scale laboratory proofs to producing larger quantities of this tungsten-oxide-enhanced NMC and MOF-integrated separators. These batches have now been synthesized and distributed to the partners in other work packages. The success of this development ensures that the project moves forward with a robust material foundation, bringing the goal of more reliable and powerful energy storage solutions closer to reality.