Development of Safe and High-Energy Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries Towards 500 WH/KG

Project overview

This project aims to overcome the limitations of current electric vehicle (EV) technology, focusing on enhancing the energy density, safety and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries through the development of a new polymeric solid-state electrolyte-based lithium-ion battery (SSLIB).

Addressing key issues such as range anxiety, high material costs and safety risks, the project proposes innovative solutions, including highly ionic conductive polymer solid-state electrolytes, safe and long-lasting Li metal-based anodes, and low-cost, high-energy Li-ion cathodes. Using advanced characterization methods such as synchrotron radiation, the project seeks to advance the understanding of solid-state battery mechanisms, supporting the design of future battery materials.

With a strong emphasis on developing prototype cells for solid-state batteries, this initiative leverages the expertise of leading researchers and fosters collaborations with industrial and academic partners to stimulate local economies and reduce environmental impact, while also contributing to the training of high-quality personnel.

Key project details

Principal investigator	Xia Li, assistant professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University
Co-principal investigators	Karim Zaghib, professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering and CEO of Volt-Age, Concordia University; Sixu Deng, assistant professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University
Research collaborators	Michel Armand, director of Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Sarah Sajedi, AI Mogul; Francisco Carranza, Basquevolt; Tobias Glossmann, general manager, Mercedes-Benz; Nancy Déziel, general director, CNETE Shawinigan; Victoire de Margerie, Rondol Industries
Non-academic partners	AI Mogul, Mercedes-Benz, Basquevolt, CNETE Shawinigan, Rondol Industries
Research Keywords	Solid-state batteries, polymer solid-state electrolytes, Li metal anodes, high- energy cathodes, pouch cell pack, dendrites, local resources, reduced carbon emissions, critical mineral Independence, electric vehicles
Budget	Cash: $200,000 In-kind: $700,000

Research focus

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Develop high-energy, affordable batteries

The overall goal is to develop solid-state batteries that achieve a high energy density (500 Wh/kg) at a moderate temperature (23 °C) while ensuring affordability with a target cost (< $100/kWh) at the pack level.

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Explore polymer-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs)

This objective is to develop polymer-based SSEs that feature high ionic conductivity (> 10 mS cm^-1) for room temperature operation (23 °C), high electrochemical stability for Li metal anode usage (> 500 plating-stripping Li-Li cycles), and high electrochemical stability for high-energy Li-ion cathodes (> 4.0 V charge-discharge).

Develop reliable anode materials

Develop reliable anode materials that include stable Li-X alloy for long battery operation (> 500 cycles), thin film Li-X-Y ternary anode (< 2 μm) for a Li dendrite-free anode, and anode free current collectors with reliable battery life (> 150 cycles).

Examine li-ion cathode materials

This objective focuses on developing high voltage polyanion cathodes (> 4.0 V) with low cost and excellent fast-charging capability, creating low-cobalt and cobalt-free NMC cathodes with high energy density (300 Wh/kg, 1000 cycles), and examining high energy and low-cost sulphur-based cathodes for long-time operation (400 Wh/kg, > 500 cycles).

Develop battery protocol design

Develop a practical battery protocol for polymer-based SSLBs that transitions from small, lab-scale single cells to practical pouch cells and finally to large-scale prismatic cells, enabling room-temperature and free-pressure operation.

Conduct advanced material characterization

This objective seeks to understand the morphology, microstructure, crystal structure, local disorder, and chemical/electrochemical information of the developed battery materials through both ex-situ and in-situ techniques, such as microscopies (SEM, TEM, STEM) and spectroscopies (XAS, XPS, Raman, FITR).