Ultra-High Energy Storage Li-Anode Materials (LiAnMAT)

Lithium (Li) ion batteries – present in all consumer electronics and battery-powered vehicles – are produced in a capital and know-how intensive way, in particular during the initial steps of materials synthesis and cell manufacturing. The anodes of Liion batteries are currently prepared by mixing an ink of binders, solvents, silicon (Si) nanoparticles and graphite under strictly controlled conditions (order, timing, temperature), and they undergo several steps like application of the slurry to metal contacts, drying and pressing before completion of the actual anode.
In the course of the ERC Starting Grant BEGMAT we have developed a new Li-ion anode material (LiAnMAT), that (a) works without any classical additives (binder, graphite) and hence cuts down on material weight, cost, and problems in materials handling, (b) does not require mixing and application of a mixed ink to metal contacts during the preparation of the active materials – the anode material comes ready as-received on copper (Cu) metal, and (c) it does not require post-production like pressing – the films are uniformly flat as-received and can be tuned in thickness from several nm up to ~20 μm. Further, the material properties are fantastic and close to the theoretical limit for LiSi-ion batteries.
Hence, the objective of this ERC PoC Grant LiAnMAT is to develop this technology further and to achieve together with our tech transfer liaison Humboldt-Innovation GmbH, and our industrial partner VARTA Micro Innovation GmbH the following goals:
• Elimination of (most or) all conventional additives (binder, graphite, Si NPs) in anode materials.
• Minimising the number of manufacturing steps in anode and battery assembly.
• Elimination of the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) and associated capacity loss in the 1st lithiation cycle.
• Transfer of the LiAnMAT synthesis to large-scale industrial processes.
• Finding a market for LiAnMAT anodes/batteries and value creation by licensing and spin-offs.