FutureCat

To meet the increasing energy demands for next-generation batteries using graphite, silicon or lithium metal anodes, higher capacity cathodes are required. Although extremely nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes present a scalable solution, they require both particle- and electrode-level engineering to realise the performance targets without compromising lifetimes. Simply put, the increased Ni content increases energy density but at the cost of greater degradation. As a result, the adoption of increasingly Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes has been slow.

FutureCat, which came to a close in September 2025, addressed the need for accelerated development of scalable next-generation oxide cathodes by focusing on various generations of LiNiO2 systems through elemental doping, morphology engineering and protective surface coatings. This included fundamental studies on the underlying redox mechanisms, scalable industry-aligned materials synthesis, cell testing of single layer pouch cells with commercially relevant coating thicknesses and formulations, and advanced operando characterisation.

The advances the project is targeting represent significant commercial opportunities. FutureCat, in collaboration with WMG, University of Warwick, is well positioned to develop scalable solutions for next-generation cathodes towards industry relevant battery formats such as pouch cells. The project is joined by industry partners across the battery supply chain. Three new partners join the consortium in Phase 2 working on material lifetime extension via atomic layer coatings, new advanced electrolytes to maximise cathode performance, and advanced X-ray tomography characterisation methods to look inside batteries as they operate.

FutureCat’s learnings from the successful scaling-up of materials synthesis and associated electrochemical validation are now transitioning into the APC-funded COMET project and projects involving the Advanced Materials Battery Industrialisation Centre.

Deliverables

FutureCat achieved step changes in three areas:

• Fundamentals: Deeper understanding of redox processes occurring in cathodes under stressed cycling conditions using joint computational and operando studies to identify material design solutions.
• Cathode engineering: Longer lifetimes, high-energy/power through concentration gradient designs, single-crystalline morphologies and protective surface coatings.
• Scaling up and validation: Employing industry-scalable synthesis and cell manufacturing processes to demonstrate key performance targets in high-capacity single layer pouch cells.

Project innovations

FutureCat sets ambitious targets to make fundamental cathode breakthroughs that deliver significant improvements in energy/power density, cost and first life:

• Accelerated development of >100 g batch synthesis of LiNiO2 cathode materials.
• Particle-level engineered LiNiO2 generations with morphology control (single crystal and poly-crystalline), elemental doping and protective surface coatings (particle-level atomic layer deposition).
• Fabrication of prototype pouch cells for benchmark studies against current state-of-the-art cathodes.
• Development of operando neutron and X-ray studies of FutureCat-developed cathodes in unmodified prototype full-format pouch cells.
• Atomistic calculations of LiNiO2 and related Ni-rich systems.

Duration
1 October 2019 – 30 September 2025

Project funding
£14.5m

Principal Investigator
Professor Louis Piper
University of Warwick

Project Leader
Dr Ashok S. Menon
University of Warwick

Project Manager
Dr Anita Blakeston
University of Sheffield

University Partners
University of Warwick (lead)
Imperial College London
Lancaster University
University of Birmingham
University of Cambridge
University of Nottingham
University of Sheffield

Research Organisations, Facilities and Institutes
Diamond Light Source
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

+ 8 Industrial Partners

 

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