Low Tortuosity Electrodes Enabling High Specific Energy Li Ion Batteries

Despite all of the advantages that electric vehicles bring, better battery performance remains a requirement of widespread commercial adoption. Areas of specific interest include improved specific energy and energy density coupled with improved manufacturing processes which reduce costs and increase throughputs. This project aims to demonstrate a unique processing method, freeze tape casting, which is applicable an array of anode and cathode materials. The process is derived from traditional tape casting which speaks to commercial viability but produces entirely unique microstructures which impart important functional advantages to the battery. These advantages ultimately manifest as improvements in specific energy and energy density. In this project, the freeze tape casting technique will be applied to relevant materials for the production of a solid-state lithium ion demonstration cell. This project will provide proof of concept for this specialized processing approach as well as preliminary performance characterization from the subject cell. These results will further provide the basis for Phase II collaboration with established battery developers with whom active discussion is already occurring. Within Phase I formulations for freeze tape casting of the anode and cathode materials will be developed, prototype electrodes will be produced, complete cells assembled, and electrochemical characterization performed. The outcome of the proposed work is two-fold. First, the project will have demonstrated a novel, high-performance solid state, battery architecture. Second, the project will have provided an important basis in the freeze tape casting battery electrodes which will enable the company to provide technical services and freeze tape casting equipment to battery developers with an enhanced technical knowledge base. This commercial application will be of interest to developers of electric vehicle drive batteries and beyond.