As OPINCHARGE moved from its early phase into a period of strong scientific momentum, Newsletter #2 captured a key stage in the project’s development — marked by growing international visibility, major scientific exchange, and expanding collaboration within the European battery ecosystem.

This article revisits Newsletter #2, which placed a strong focus on advanced battery interface research, project milestones, and Open Access dissemination.

A Key Scientific Highlight: European Workshop on Battery Interfaces

At the heart of Newsletter #2 was the announcement of the European Workshop on Battery Interfaces: High-Resolution Techniques and Multiscale Modelling. The workshop was designed to bring together experts working with high-resolution experimental techniques and multiscale theoretical approaches to better understand the complex physical and chemical processes governing electrode–electrolyte interfaces.

The event reflected OPINCHARGE’s ambition to actively shape the European discussion on operando characterisation, interface chemistry, and multiphysics modelling in rechargeable batteries.

18 Months of OPINCHARGE: A Project Milestone

Newsletter #2 also marked an important internal milestone — 18 months of OPINCHARGE research and innovation. This moment was celebrated during the Project General Meeting held on 21–22 November 2024 in Aachen, Germany, hosted by the Center for Ageing, Reliability and Lifetime Prediction of Electrochemical and Power Electronic Systems (CARL).

The meeting brought together project partners to:

• Review progress

• Share scientific insights

• Align future research directions

• Strengthen collaboration across the consortium

This milestone confirmed that OPINCHARGE had moved successfully from its setup phase into a period of scientific consolidation and strategic planning.

Lab Tour at CARL

A special feature of Newsletter #2 was the lab tour at CARL’s facilities in Aachen. Participants had the opportunity to explore advanced testing infrastructure, including electron microscopes, computer tomography systems, X-ray and mass spectrometers.

CARL’s facilities enable large-scale battery testing with thousands of test circuits and high-power pack testers. The visit highlighted the importance of reliability, ageing and lifetime prediction within OPINCHARGE and provided valuable industrial context for the project’s research activities.

Open Access Research at the Core of OPINCHARGE

Newsletter #2 strongly emphasized OPINCHARGE’s commitment to Open Access research. Several scientific articles were featured, covering topics such as:

• Full-cell modelling of lithium-ion batteries

• Operando neutron imaging of lithium accumulation

• Electrochemical removal of HF from battery electrolytes

• Advanced methods for characterising battery interfaces

All OPINCHARGE Open Access publications are available in the Media Corner:
👉 https://www.opincharge.eu/media-corner/

Strengthening the European Battery Ecosystem

The second newsletter also highlighted OPINCHARGE’s growing role within the broader European battery landscape through close links with initiatives such as Battery2030+ and the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA) under Horizon Europe.

These collaborations support OPINCHARGE’s long-term mission to contribute not only to scientific excellence, but also to the development of a competitive and sustainable European battery value chain.

A Project in Full Motion

Looking back today, Newsletter #2 captures a moment when OPINCHARGE was clearly in full scientific and collaborative motion. With major events, strong dissemination activities, and a growing portfolio of Open Access publications, the project confirmed its position as a key contributor to next-generation battery interface research.

👉 Download OPINCHARGE Newsletter #2

What’s Next?

After documenting strong momentum in Newsletter #2, OPINCHARGE is already preparing the fourth project newsletter. It will bring together the latest results, exploitation highlights, and a look ahead as the project reaches its conclusion.

📩 Stay tuned — Newsletter #4 is coming soon. Subscribe today and don’t miss anything!