Contract no.: 30N/12.01.2023
Project title: „Dezvoltarea de soluții inovatoare și tehnologii de fabricație avansată cu laseri, plasmă și radiații pentru rezolvarea problemelor societale„
Phase 20/2026 „Sudarea laser a unui cuplu nou de materiale eterogene cu conductivitate ridicata pentru contacte de baterii (PL2.14)„
Phase coordinator: Dr. Andrei Popescu
The term of the conclusion of the phase: 03.03.2026
Abstract:
Electrical interconnections in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other applications must ensure reliable operation over service lifetimes exceeding 10 years, which requires joints with low and stable electrical resistance, reduced heat input, and compatibility with mass production. This study defines interdisciplinary evaluation criteria (electrical/thermal, metallurgical, mechanical, and economic) and selects the Cu–Al material pair for manufacturing the contacts (tabs), considering its compatibility with conventional cell architectures and overall battery performance. Laser welding experiments were performed using a continuous-wave Yb:YAG source (λ = 1030 nm, P_max = 3 kW) integrated into a five-degree-of-freedom CNC system equipped with galvanometric scanner optics, enabling scanning speeds on the order of several hundred mm/s. Given the small material thicknesses (100–400 µm) and their susceptibility to deformation, maintaining rigid contact between the surfaces was treated as a critical prerequisite, since gaps exceeding 100 µm lead to lack of bonding and increase the risk of vaporization/perforation. Accordingly, clamping solutions were analyzed, and individual pressing of each tab was identified as the optimal approach to increase flexibility and productivity, with high automation potential. Process parameters were optimized for both dissimilar and similar joints on a CuNi backing plate (2 mm), using a parallel-line scanning strategy (0.25 mm pitch), a ~42 µm spot size, and a 10° inclination angle, without shielding gas. The resulting regimes included, for Al (0.4 mm)/CuNi (2 mm), P ≈ 650 W and v ≈ 250 mm/s (penetration depth 150–200 µm), and for CuNi (0.2 mm)/CuNi (2 mm), P ≈ 800 W and v ≈ 420 mm/s (penetration depth 80–100 µm). Electrical validation of the joints on a batch of three batteries indicated internal resistances in the range of 0,63–0,72 mΩ, below the 1 mΩ threshold, confirming compliance with application requirements and the potential for industrial implementation of the process.
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Faza 22/2026: Validarea tehnologiei de fabricare la scară de laborator a dispozitivelor senzoristice (PL4.10)
Phase coordinator: Dr. Valentin Ion
Termen de încheiere a fazei: 04.06.2026
Abstract:
Agriculture is an essential sector for the survival and development of the human community, playing a major role in ensuring food security. Although numerous measures have been implemented to increase agricultural production, it is still affected by disruptive external factors. In this context, the use of advanced technologies, in particular smart sensor structures, can significantly contribute to the monitoring and optimization of agricultural processes. Sensors allow the real-time assessment of essential parameters for crop development, such as humidity and air temperature, nitrogen content, as well as the presence of gases of interest, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide or methane. Sensor structures thus play a central role in the transition from agriculture based on empirical practices to precision agriculture, based on data.
To achieve the objective of this stage "Dedicated sensor devices for the detection of hazardous gases for domestic and public use (NH3, CH4, ethanol, CO2, CO, NOx, ozone)", sensor systems for the detection of hazardous gases and the determination of ambient temperature were developed. SAW sensors were made starting from TiO2-VOx nanoparticles (x=2/2.5) synthesized by laser pyrolysis. The selected nanopowders were decorated with Pd and embedded in PEI polymer, to be deposited as a film by the spin-coating technique. The best result regarding the detection of CH4 was obtained for the sample with the highest vanadium content, decorated with Pd: sensitivity - 0.94 Hz/ppm and LOD - 32 ppm. Also, SAW sensors based on piezoelectric materials for carbon dioxide detection and SAW sensors used for CH4 (methane) detection based on In-doped ZnO in various concentrations were realized. Using the LIFT technique, resistive gas sensors were realized, and an experimental configuration specific to the testing of resistive gas sensors was designed and realized, consisting of a compact, efficient and easy-to-use experimental bench, intended for evaluating the response of the sensors under controlled laboratory conditions.
Also within this stage, conductometric sensors based on carbon nanomaterials (simple rGO), but also doped with platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd), were developed to obtain sensitive films with improved response, stability and selectivity in the detection of methane (CH₄) under various operating conditions.
Since the response of the sensors is temperature dependent, an experimental device for non-contact temperature measurement, based on luminescence thermometry in oxide ceramic materials doped with Er³⁺/Yb³ ions, was developed and validated under laboratory conditions (TRL 4).
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Faza 23/2026: Tehnologie de sinteză cu plasmă a electrozilor transparenți pentru celule solare (PL2.12)
Phase coordinator: Dr. Magdalena Nistor
The term of the conclusion of the phase: 09.07.2026
Abstract:
Obiectivul fazei a constat in dezvoltarea unei tehnologii de sinteza cu plasma a electrozilor transparenți si conductori pentru celule solare cu perovskit. Ținta a fost atinsa, realizându-se un protocol de corelare a parametrilor tehnologiei de sinteză cu plasmă de proprietățile optice si electrice ale electrozilor transparenți si o tehnologie TRL 4, validate la nivel de laborator.
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