News 2025

A decisive step toward making battery cell production more environmentally friendly and cost-effective is the development of innovative manufacturing processes such as the dry processing of electrodes. This method completely eliminates the need for expensive and, in some cases, toxic organic solvents. The key lies in the choice of a suitable binder: the high-performance polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). To strengthen the circular economy of batteries with such processes, it is essential to integrate recycling options from the outset. A team from the MEET Battery Research Center and the Institute of Business Chemistry at the University of Münster has therefore developed a method for recycling dry-processed cathodes of lithium-ion batteries. The experts have now published their findings in the journal "Advanced Energy Materials".

Lithium-ion batteries play a central role in electromobility and energy storage. Recycling is a crucial step in closing their value chain. But what does it actually cost? A team from the Institute of Business Management in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Münster has addressed this question in a recent study. Their findings have been published under the title “Cost Modelling and Key Drivers in Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling” in Nature Reviews Clean Technology.

Doctoral researcher Lisa Schlott, junior group leader Dr. Moritz Gutsch, and institute director Prof. Dr. Jens Leker show that the costs of recycling lithium-ion batteries vary substantially depending on battery type and recycling method. “Our evaluation of more than 70 studies worldwide shows that the cost of recycling one kilogram of battery material ranges from as little as one US dollar to as much as 22 US dollars,” explains Lisa Schlott. However, the study also revealed that transparency and traceability in the cost models published to date are often lacking. “Battery recycling is costly, yet in some calculations the expenses for essential equipment are not taken into account,” emphasizes Dr. Moritz Gutsch. “That leads to distorted results.”
 

When electric vehicle (EV) batteries reach the end of their service life, they can be recycled to recover valuable raw materials for the production of new batteries. Alternatively, retired EV batteries can be repurposed for use as stationary energy storage systems, helping to integrate renewable energy into the power grid, manage peak loads, and enhance energy security. Both recycling and second-life use are based on principles of circular economy. But which option is preferable—immediate recycling or second-life use? To answer this question, researchers from the University of Münster (Germany), the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB (Germany), and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) conducted a study using California as a case study. The researchers found that deploying end-of-life EV batteries as stationary energy storage devices is more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions than immediate recycling. They therefore recommend that countries with a high percentage of renewable energies should prioritize the reuse of retired EV batteries as stationary energy storage devices before recycling.

New patent analysis examines international collaboration in battery recycling / Study reveals limited collaboration between regions / Western countries risk losing connection
The increasing adoption of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and portable electronics is leading to a dramatic increase in end-of-life batteries. Effective recycling solutions are therefore becoming increasingly urgent. A research team from our Institute for Business Administration at the University of Münster has now conducted a comprehensive patent analysis to track the evolving technological landscape in battery recycling and support the development of strategic partnerships in this market.

New Study Reveals Potential of Big Data Analytics for Strategic Decision-Making in the Battery Industry / Researchers identify trends and research gaps / Systematic analysis uncovers growing importance of geopolitical factors
The battery industry faces enormous challenges: accelerated innovation cycles, intensified competition, and growing technological diversity require cost-effective strategic decision-making across the entire battery value chain. A research team from the Institute for Business Administration at the University of Münster has now conducted a comprehensive study examining how big data analytics can support strategic decision-making processes in the battery industry.

For the second time, the Institute for Business Management (IfbM) in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Münster and the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB are organizing the BatteryCity Münster PhD Day.
All doctoral candidates in battery research are invited. The PhD Day provides an exciting opportunity to engage with current topics related to battery research. The event will take place on September 30, 2025, at the University of Münster, providing a perfect opportunity for professional exchange, cross-institutional networking, and new impulses for scientific and professional development.
The PhD Day is open to all doctoral candidates along the entire value chain, including those involved in analytics, developing new or improved materials, battery cell production, recycling energy storage systems, digitalized manufacturing processes, and product and production technologies.

The 2025 ISPIM Innovation Conference took our Business Chemistry team to Bergen, Norway – a city whose breathtaking fjords and mountain landscapes perfectly matched the conference theme: “Innovation Powered by Nature”.
Together with more than 400 participants from over 30 countries, André, Jens, Luca, and Stephan engaged in workshops, insightful discussions, and global networking sessions on the future of innovation management.

Next-generation battery technologies play an important role in the energy and mobility transition. A research team from the Universities of Münster and Cambridge and the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production (Fraunhofer FFB) has analysed global competition in this field by comparing patents and innovation strategies across various regions, focusing on next-generation battery technologies for electric vehicles. The study identifies the positions of different regions (China, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States) regarding their technological priorities and innovation strategies. The researchers considered future battery technologies for high-energy applications as well as future technologies for low cost applications. They conclude that Europe and the United States risk losing the race for leadership in future battery technologies.

What strategic opportunities arise from the energy transition for companies? Providing an answer to this and similar questions is the daily business of Christoph Gerwin, Manager at AFRY Management Consulting. Providing a range of examples, Christoph outlined how to develop a strategy for offshore wind power providers or how to increase sustainability for a well-planed coal phase-out. We thank Christoph for his time and looking forward to future insight from practitioners.

Cargo transport is responsible for an enormous carbon footprint. Between 2010 and 2018 the transport sector generated around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To address this problem, experts are looking for alternative, climate-friendly solutions – not only for road transport, but also for shipping, a sector in which powering cargo ships with batteries has proved especially difficult. One promising but hardly researched solution involves small, autonomous, hydrogen-powered boats that can partially replace long-haul trucking. A research team led by business chemist Prof Stephan von Delft from the University of Münster has now examined this missing link. It has mathematically modelled such a boat for the first time and carried out a life cycle- and cost analysis. “Our calculations show in which scenarios hydrogen-powered boats are not only more sustainable but also more economical compared to established transport solutions,” explains Stephan von Delft. “They are therefore relevant for policymakers and industry.”

Producing batteries for electric cars requires a complex supply chain. Researchers from Fraunhofer FFB and the University of Münster analyzed the ownership structures and geopolitical dependencies along this supply chain. The result: China controls almost the entire value chain of lithium-ion batteries.