Ultra-High Energy Lithium Metal Battery System Based on Solid Electrolyte and Cobalt Free Cathode
SPARKZ, Inc.
Recipient
Sacramento, CA
Recipient Location
8th
Senate District
10th
Assembly District
$1,742,187
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The Sparkz and LBNL teams hired a post doc in Q4 of 2022 to work at LBNL for this project. Since then, the teams have begun optimizing binder selection and composition for freeze-tape casting, characterizing morphology changes post-annealing, as well as planning to implement OIPC for the catholyte.
In addition to the work highlighted above, the Sparkz pilot facility in Livermore has been under construction. Equipment installation was completed in late 2022. The remaining construction before facility start up will be completed in Q2 of 2023.
As of April 2023, the project team has completed imaging of porous LLZO layers and successfully freeze-tape casted a porous LLZO layer onto a dense LLZO layer. The team has begun pre-screening three additional binders for freeze-tape cast LLZO.
The Issue
All solid-state battery systems (ASSBs) offer higher energy density and better inherent safety than state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the successful fabrication of ASSBs with ceramic electrolytes has primarily been restricted to small-scale thin film devices due to processing difficulties such as the preparation of electrolyte in inert atmosphere (sulfide based solid electrolyte for example), poor contact between active materials and solid electrolyte, resistance growth during battery cycling, and the formation of lithium poor areas on the solid electrolyte. To improve the solid electrolyte/cathode interface contact and increase the solid electrolyte conductivity, solid electrolyte-based oxides are sintered at high temperature. The use of a higher amount of non-active material (solid electrolyte in this case) causes the reduction of the battery energy density. This project is seeking to address these issues by producing a solid-state lithium battery with higher energy density and cycle life and lower cost at scale.
Project Innovation
This project will develop a solid-state lithium battery prototype able to cycle at room temperature and demonstrate the battery for drone use. This technology uses a lithium metal anode and solid, nonflammable electrolytes to increase safety and energy density while reducing battery costs. The team seeks to demonstrate an innovative freeze tape casting manufacturing method to increase energy density and lower costs. They will target an energy density over 350 Wh/Kg that can operate at 80% capacity for at least 100 cycles. This method of manufacturing uses proprietary processes developed by LBNL to produce the catholyte.
Project Benefits
Economic Development
All solid-state batteries will play a significant role in the future of e-mobility, energy storage, and consumer electronics. The benefits of deploying this technology will include reduction of greenhouse gases, improved air quality, clean-energy job creation, and workforce development.
Safety
All solid-state batteries use safer non-flammable electrolyte thereby enhancing the safety of Lithium batteries. This improvement can be obtained without impact on the performance of the battery.
Key Project Members
Abby Rodriguez
Dr. Blake Hawley
Subrecipients
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
