The Photonics Research Lab (PRL) from iTEAM recently visited the facilities of Zelestium Technologies in Ólvega (Soria, Spain), a company specialized in the development and manufacturing of ion-aluminum cell-based batteries. This technology represents a highly promising alternative thanks to its advantages in terms of safety, sustainability, and durability compared to conventional solutions.
During the visit, the Zelestium team showcased the complete manufacturing process of their cells and presented their current product portfolio. The meeting also provided an opportunity to move forward on one of the project’s main technological challenges: integrating optical fiber sensors inside batteries without affecting their performance.
Throughout the meeting, the PRL and Zelestium teams discussed different technical approaches and selected the most promising strategies for the next stages of the project. The goal is to develop photonic sensors capable of detecting and monitoring parameters related to battery degradation mechanisms, thus contributing to safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting energy storage systems.
The Photobat project is being carried out by the consortium formed by Zelestium Technologies and the PRL at iTEAM, with funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The initiative aims to improve the understanding of the behavior and degradation of electrochemical batteries throughout their lifetime using advanced photonic technologies.
We would like to thank the Zelestium team for their warm welcome and strong commitment throughout the visit. We continue working together to make the smart batteries of the future a reality.
This activity is part of Project CPP2024-011347 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU.