The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Policy News

The US Department of Energy's Office of Vehicle Technology is funding research projects on lithium battery anodes to accelerate the application of lithium batteries in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.

In the framework of the Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) Program that is financed by the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Vehicle Technolgy more than $8 million are granted to eight R&D projects on lithium battery anodes. The BATT Program is managed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as part of the Carbon Cycle 2.0 initiative which focuses on developing very low-carbon technologies in the fields of combustion, carbon sequestration, photovoltaics, artificial photosynthesis, bio-fuels and energy storage.

The BATT Request for Proposals on the “Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Anode Materials and Structures for Use in Lithium Batteries” was launched in the second half of 2009. The awardees include two national laboratories, five universities, and one private non-profit research institute. Their projects focus on developing next-generation anodes to increase the energy and decrease the cost of lithium batteries while maintaining safety and cycle life. The selected projects receive a total of $8.54 million over four years and are expected to start between October 2010 and January 2011.

Grantee, project name and description  

Argonne National Laboratory: Three-Dimensional Anode Architectures and Materials
This project will design high surface-area metal foam architectures as substrates for metal or intermetallic anodes. These new architectures will be superior to conventional laminated electrodes due to the enhanced stability derived from direct chemical bonding of the active materials to the current collector. The goal is to design anodes that will deliver a reversible capacity of at least 500 mAh/g with a lifetime of at least 500 cycles.

Binghamton University: Metal-Based High-Capacity Li-Ion Anodes
This project will synthesize nano-sized metal-based anodes, with most emphasis being placed on nano-tin. Additionally, other electroactive species will be incorporated so that greater lithium insertion rates can be obtained for safe and faster charging. The goal is to develop anodes with volumetric energy densities that approach double those of current carbon anodes, while still maintaining at least 400 mAh/g.

Drexel University: New Layered Nanolaminates for Use in Lithium Battery Anodes
This project will explore a new class of materials combining the laminate structure of graphite with silicon, tin and other elements that can provide a higher lithium uptake per atom and lead to an improved capacity. The goal is to offer combined advantages of graphite and silicon anodes with a higher capacity than graphite and less expansion, longer cycle life, and a lower cost than silicon nanoparticles.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Colorado: Atomic Layer Deposition for Stabilization of Amorphous Silicon Anodes
This project will use atomic layer deposition to coat amorphous-silicon anodes with an artificial solid electrolyte interphase layer to help minimize degradation upon volume expansion of the silicon during charging. In addition, flexible organic coatings will be deposited via molecular layer deposition to accommodate this volume change. The goal is to produce an anode with unprecedented high capacity and high rate that is capable of thousands of cycles.

Pennsylvania State University: Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer-Coated Layered SiOx-Graphene Nanocomposite Anodes
This project will synthesize anodes targeted to reach specific capacity of more than 1,500 mAh/g with minimal capacity fading in 500 cycles at 1C rates. The layered structure of graphene sheets and SiOx nanoparticles can accommodate volume change or phase transformation of the SiOx materials by providing good electric contact between highly conductive graphene layers during charge/discharge processes, leading to enhanced cycling stability. An elastic binder polymer with Li-ion conductivity will be used to further accommodate volume change.

Southwest Research Institute: Synthesis and Characterization of Silicon Clathrates for Anode Applications in Lithium-Ion Batteries
This project aims to synthesize silicon clathrate anodes that are designed to exhibit a volume expansion of only 9%, compared with 300% for the lithiation of crystalline silicon. Because of the small volume changes during lithiation, silicon clathrate anodes have the potential for high specific energy density, while avoiding capacity fading and improving battery life.

Stanford University: Wiring Up Silicon Nanoparticles for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes
This project will explore a hierarchical porous electrode concept to wire up silicon nanoparticles, which can be synthesized at low cost and in large scale. In addition, this project will investigate strategies to limit electrolyte penetration into the silicon nanoparticle anode and will modify the nanoparticle surface to obtain a stable solid electrolyte interphase layer for long-term cycling.

University of Pittsburgh: Nanoscale Heterostructures and Thermoplastic Resin Binders - Novel Li-Ion Anode Systems
This project will use cost-effective methods to synthesize amorphous silicon and Li-Si alloys and carbon- and boron-based heterostructures. In addition, this project will explore thermoplastic resin binders with chemical, physical, and electrochemical attributes superior to the currently used poly-vinylidene fluoride for keeping silicon particles in contact and preventing electrode cracking during cycling. The project goals include reversible capacities exceeding 2000 mAh/g and high rate capability.

These projects were chosen out of 88 submitted papers out of which 28 had been encouraged to fill out a full proposal. A selection committee composed of leading lithium battery experts reviewed each proposal and recommended the eight projects for funding.

About BATT

BATT is the premier fundamental research program in the U.S. for developing high-performance, rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.