High Voltage Lithium Ion Battery with Improved Life and Safety

Higher performance batteries are needed to support commercialization of electric vehicles. Battery performance can be improved through cell chemistry innovations that raise the discharge voltage without sacrificing cost or safety. This DOE SBIR will demonstrate innovative high voltage and high temperature non-carbonate electrolytes. Combined with stabilized high voltage cathode materials, this will enable higher energy density cell designs able to meet USABC goals for electric vehicle batteries. Non-carbonate electrolytes will be synthesized. Protective coatings will be applied to high nickel content cathode materials. These components will be incorporated into prototype pouch cells of >200 mAh which will be fabricated, filled and formed using materials and methods compatible with high volume automated cell production. Cell performance and abuse tolerance will be evaluated.