IEC TC 113 Spring Meeting – coordinating international efforts on nano-enabled energy storage
From 27–30 May 2025, the IEC TC 113 Spring Meeting brought together global experts in nanotechnology standardization in Tokyo, Japan. From DigiCell, Norbert Fabricius and Werner Bergholz from ISC participated.
The week began with a high-level workshop on nano-enabled energy storage, underscoring the rising importance of nanomaterials in the next generation of batteries and electrochemical devices.
The opening workshop featured contributions from academia, industry, and standardization bodies, focusing on key challenges and measurement needs for materials such as nanosilicon, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. Discussions emphasized the importance of standardized test methods to support safety, performance, and interoperability across emerging battery technologies.
WG11 session: Coordinating international efforts on nano-enabled energy storage
As part of the week’s activities, Working Group 11 (WG11) met on 29 May 2025 to review its extensive project portfolio. The group is responsible for the development of both product specifications and key control characteristics (KCCs) related to nanomaterials used in energy storage systems. More than 50 experts from Asia, Europe, and North America participated in person or remotely, reflecting the global reach of the IEC TC 113 initiative.
Highlights from the WG11 meeting:
Terminology alignment: The group carefully discussed the distinction between the terms electrochemical capacitor and supercapacitor. While the term electrochemical capacitor is scientifically accurate and consistent with the IEV and IEC TC 40, supercapacitor remains dominant in industrial and commercial usage. WG11 agreed to formally adopt electrochemical capacitor in IEC documents, while retaining supercapacitor in scopes and definitions to ensure clarity and market relevance.
Standard published: The release of IEC TS 62565-5-3, covering nanosized silicon materials for lithium-ion battery anodes, marks a key milestone in defining product specifications for nanomaterials.
Technical progress: Experts reported advances in multiple draft specifications and technical documents. Among them were methods for:
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
- Raman spectroscopy for in-situ characterization
- Coin cell preparation protocols
- Dispersion stability and zeta potential analysis
- Graphene–carbon nanotube suspensions as conductive agents
European collaboration: Several projects are developed in close cooperation with the EU DigiCell initiative, which aims to harmonize battery metrology and support innovation in next-generation chemistries.
New materials in scope: Emerging projects cover characterization of carbon black, hard carbon for sodium-ion batteries, phosphate-based cathodes, and solid-state electrolytes using oxide-based nanomaterials.
Looking ahead
WG11 reaffirmed its commitment to developing globally accepted standards that support both innovation and commercial deployment in nano-enabled energy storage. The group also highlighted the importance of precise and traceable test methods, especially for rapidly evolving materials and architectures.
As demand for sustainable and high-performance energy storage grows, international standardization through IEC TC 113 and its working groups is a key enabler for safe and reliable adoption of nanotechnologies.
For more information on how to get involved in IEC TC 113 or to contribute to current standardization efforts, please contact International Standards Consulting (ISC).
