Dr. Margit Fábián shares her answer. She is a member of the Solid-State Na-Battery Cells and Neutron-Based Characterization Methods Research Group at the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, taking part in the National Laboratory for Renewable Energy (NLRE) project.
Building on the unique neutron investigation capabilities of the Budapest Research Reactor, the research group achieved outstanding advancements in the field of battery research. The NLRE made it possible to combine neutron-based measurements with the monitoring of electrochemical behavior, contributing to a deeper understanding and optimization of battery components. By expanding neutron-based methods and infrastructure with electrochemical testing capabilities, the group has established internationally competitive, long-term research capacity.
During the project, the research group designed and built an electrochemical measurement system compatible with neutron diffraction structural analysis. This system provides unique insights into the testing of battery components. It enables real-time monitoring of structural degradation processes during the charging and discharging cycles of batteries — the process by which a battery’s capacity and performance gradually decrease over time.
As a result, a unique cell testing capability has been established, which the research group can make available to both domestic and international researchers. In doing so, it contributes to strengthening and expanding Hungary’s battery research ecosystem and competences.
