Advanced Metal Anodes for Lithium Metal Secondary Batteries

Lithium metal represents the ultimate anode material due to its high energy density (3860 mAh/g), however, dendrite growth during charge has been essentially preventing its wide application in rechargeable batteries. LiBAMA's bi-functional advanced metal anode (AMA) represents the world's first innovation evolved out of numerous failed and on-going efforts with solid electrolytes, lithium protection and 3D electrodes in the past decades. The AMA is a microporous copper foil with controlled interface (artificial SEI) that can inhibit lithium dendrite growth based on mechanical, thermodynamic and kinetic factors. It behaves like the hybrid of graphite and lithium metal, hosting lithium in its pores and also functions as the current collector. It can have higher specific capacity than lithium metal anode, as well as lower cost, better safety and faster charging capability, and as a drop-in replacement anode for the manufacturing of full batteries. The concept has been partially verified with preliminary data and back tested with past and current literature data. This SBIR project will further develop the AMA material and help validate the effectiveness of the concept. The world will be able to utilize low cost batteries that have double energy density for whatever mobile power application wherever it deems needed.