Schematic representing porosity of each layer in a laminated LCO electrode (beige curvy lines represent the electrode’s porosity).
Invention Summary:
There is a pressing need to increase the specific energy of Li-ion batteries to increase range of electric vehicles and decrease cost of the battery. In theory, increasing the thickness of electrodes can result in a large increase in the percentage of active materials leading to significant enhancements in energy density and reductions in cost. However, thick electrodes are plagued by poor transport properties and slow kinetics resulting from the increases in distance electrons must travel from the current collector and diffusion distance Li ions must travel through the electrode. To mitigate poor transport properties porosity can be increased. However, this results in a reduction in capacity and electronic conductivity.
The Energy Storage Research Group at Rutgers University, led by Professor Glenn Amatucci, have designed thick electrodes which display high-rate capabilities without sacrificing low-rate capacity density. By fabricating a gradient in porosity, with low porosity near the current collector and high porosity near the separator, the inventors are able to reduce tortuosity without increasing porosity. The methods used to introduce porosity result in homogenous porosity, which is difficult to obtain using conventional Li-ion battery manufacturing. Additionally, the inventors demonstrate significant advancements in plastic electrode technology for creating ultrathick gradient porosity electrodes using a simpler, scalable methodology.
Market Applications:
Thick battery electrodes
Electric vehicles
Grid Scale Energy Storage
Advantages:
High-rate capabilities and high low-rate capacity density
Simple, scalable manufacturing methods for plastic electrodes
Validation with electrodes up to ~230 nm in thickness
Publications:
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Non-Provisional application filed. Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration. For any business development and other collaborative partnerships, contact: marketingbd@research.rutgers.edu