SBIR-STTR Award

There is great interest in developing high-efficiency, lightweight Li-ion batteries with high power/energy density for various military applications such as electric drive and hybrid vehicles. One key technology to the development of such Li-ion batteries is a more advanced mateiral for cathode, in replace of the traditional LiCoO2-based material having the limted power and energy density and hence limited potential for future applications. In this SBIR project, Aegis Technology teamed with American Lithium Energy proposes to develop a novel class of phospho-olivine LiCo(Ni)PO4-based nanomaterials and the associated nanocomposite for cathodes of Li-ion batteries. This class of cathode nanomaterials, which is expected to demonstrate substantially enhanced power/energy density as compared with conventionally used cathode materials, can be also produced with a cost-effective, scalable process. In this Phase I study, we will demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed appoach, covering material/microstructure design, processing development, chracterization and prototyping. The Li-ion cell prototype by using such a nanomaterial cathode will be demonstrated and characterized, in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed nanocomposite in a systematic level. The successful technology development in this project will improve the design and fabrication of future Li-ion batteries with unprecedented energy density substantially exceeding those of currently available Li-ionbattery systems.

Keywords:
Lithium Ion Battery Systems, Cathode, Nanomaterial, Nanocomposite, High Energy Density, Low Cost

To realize the full potential of Li-ion batteries, the development of more advanced cathode materials are highly desirable, which is critical to enable high-energy-density Li-ion batteries to meet silent watch or other demanding requirements of military vehicles. In this project, Aegis Technology Inc. proposes to develop a novel class of cathode based on layered-spinel lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide (LS-LMNO) nanomaterials that is combined with novel doping and surface coating. This class of cathode material is expected to provide significantly enhanced energy density (> 850 Wh/kg vs. 500-600Wh/kg of commercial products), excellent rate capability, and long service/cycle life, which will help to increase technical vehicle silent watch time by 15% or more. In addition, a cost-effective, scalable processing method will also be established to enable the potential mass production with commercial viability. In the accomplished Phase I, technical feasibility of the proposed cathode has been demonstrated successfully with high specific capacity (>250 mAh/g) and promising rate capability and cycling performance. In Phase II, further optimization on material composition and processing will be conducted. Using the developed cathode along with suitable electrolyte and anode material that enable the implementation of this cathode material,

Keywords:
Li-Ion Battery, Cathode, Energy Density, High Capacity, Nanomaterial, Layered-Spinel, Lithium-Manganese-Nickel-Oxide, Silent Watch