Entry requirements

120 credits in science/engineering. Materials chemistry for batteries. Participation in Rechargeable batteries. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• analyse the meaning of the concept "sustainable development" and ethical, environmental, social, and economic perspectives related to batteries and battery materials,
• account for and analyse different goal conflicts along the battery value chain, 
• account for an overview of how technology shifts influence the societal development and create new conditions for social, economic, and technical development,  
• give an overview over the toxicological effects from manufacturing and use of battery materials on humans and the environment,
• discuss the energy storage system and energy relevant materials in a sustainability perspective,
• apply a simplified life cycle analysis methodology in a cradle-to-grave perspective,
• evaluate the choice of materials methodology for balancing of battery performance and environmental impact,
• explain and compare processes for recycling of batteries and battery materials and strategies to increase the recyclability. 

Content

The concept "sustainable development" and battery materials: environmental, social, and economic aspects of materials and materials development. Energy production, use, distribution, and energy storage materials. Goal conflicts with respect to batteries and battery materials. Analysis of different uses of energy storage in the energy system from a sustainability perspective. Recycling technologies for batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries. Application of methodology for choice of materials to decrease the batteries' environmental impact. Toxicological aspects of production and recycling of battery materials. Information search in databases. Orientation of international jurisdiction in the battery area. Comparative and simplified life cycle analysis according to ISO 14040.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, and group project.

Assessment

Written exam (5 credits). Project assignments with written reports (4 credits). Active participation in seminars (1 credit).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.