High Energy Safe Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Electric vehicle manufacturers and the Department of Energy want safe and fast charging batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles with significant improvement in specific power. Of particular interest are new low-cost materials that can accept high-power recharging during regenerative braking and are compatible with existing manufacturing infrastructure. The applicant holds an exclusive license to patented materials with favorable properties for use in lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, these materials can improve batteries for portable tools and electronics, medical implants, military, and aerospace applications. The company’s founders discovered and patented Graphene Monoxide, a novel carbon-based nanomaterial that is a 2- dimensional solid crystalline form of carbon monoxide. This is the first and only known solid form of carbon monoxide that occurs at ambient conditions; it has exciting properties suitable for marketable lithium-ion anodes. Superior battery performance arises from improved lithium+ and electron transfer. The materials actively store lithium+ during fast charging at stations and during regenerative braking. The new materials are compatible with graphite and silicon-graphite, enabling development of novel, lighter, and safer anode materials that will charge faster and increase battery specific energy and power. We will use two approaches to constrain costs: (1) maintain compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure and (2) enter the market as an additive to improve silicon-graphite anode performance. As economies of scale reduce costs, the applicant’s materials will become a larger fraction of the anode. Phase I objectives (1) Prepare and test novel active anode compositions in half-cells; (2) Prepare and test coin and pouch batteries using anode materials from Objective 1; and (3) Plan for materials scale up. All Phase I Milestones were achieved as proposed, or with modifications guided by R&D, producing 200mAh pouch-cell batteries as a chief milestone. Half- and full-coin and pouch cell electrochemical cycling prove superior performance at fast charging (10C) and at low temperatures (-20°C), with improved specific energy and power. Phase II objectives (1) Improve and optimize novel active anode materials and composites to reduce cost and enhance desirability; (2) Achieve progressive, iterative scale-up of material manufacture to develop an industry-ready process for production of novel active anode materials; (3) Prepare & test 2Ah prototype batteries for demonstration to investors, technology transfer partners, or customers using optimized novel active anode materials. Improved anode materials will result in better batteries, consequently making electric vehicles more affordable and convenient. In addition to economic benefits (such as job creation) from the innovative electric vehicle industry, political and environmental benefits include decreased dependence on foreign oil and reduced air pollution.