Next generation Anode material for Lithium lon batteries (NALI)
ART/051CP
20081101 - 20101031
9000
Dr Francis Chee-Shuen Lee
The project deliverables are listed in the following.
(A). One technology transfer:
A developed fabrication process of ASTRI anode material can fabricate at least 5Kg lot size ASTRI anode material. The viability of the process shall be verified through the cost effectively produced sample is capable of producing next generation LIB through;
Pilot battery production line using ASTRI anode material fabrication processes to produce batteries.
(B). Two successful battery prototypes using ASTRI-anode-material either in an existing automatic fabrication line; or in two existing auto-fabrication-line. That is
1). Li ion cell/battery with the anode electrode plate, the anode electrode plate is casting with 5kg lot size ASTRI anode material using auto-fab-line to produce batteries for the verification of anode material function with performance parameters meeting the following specs:
Energy capacity > 450 A•hr/Kg, Irreversible Capacity <10% of the Energy capacity, Cycle life: 400 cycles with less than 20% decay of the first charged energy capacity.
2). Auto-line battery fabrication using 15Kg lot size ASTRI anode material to produce battery for the verification of anode material function with the same performance specified above. In addition, it shall pass a very stringent high C-rate criterion below: Batteries to perform the anode material with weight energy density > 240 Ahr/Kg, Volumetric energy density > 500Whr/L and discharge smoothly with 10 C rate.
(C). Technical report consisting the followings records:
1). Develop scale up ASTRI anode material processes from current 150g (seed project) to a scale of 15 kg that maintaining the material performance as seed project specifications.
2). Develop one surface modifier for cost effectively producing ASTRI cathode material breaking the bottle neck of the current commercial cathode material such as volumetric energy density for the future Li-ion battery applications
3). Develop one ASTRI cathode material. As a result of the feasibility phase of cathode material development, the material shall be with energy capacity >200 Ahr/Kg with 2.1 gram per cc tap density; or (with tap density >2.5 g/cc on the 170 A.hr/Kg energy capacity), > 200 cycles life and with high C charge/discharge capability.
This full project extends a seed project effort. The seed project effort successfully designed, synthesized and characterized a composite material suitable for the next generation Lithium ion batteries. The seed project also cost-effectively produced the next generation anode material invented by HK ASTRI. During seed project execution, the produced ASTRI anode material is proven to be a high performance anode material fits right into the high energy capacity range (350~450Amphr/kg) with high C-rate & long-battery-life required by the next generation applications. The Li ion battery manufacturers can easily use this anode material with their existing facility, fabrication process, and electrolytes. The proposed full project will focus on the following endeavors: (1) Devote effort to up-scale the cost effective potential mass production process from 150g (seed project achieved) lot size to 15-25 Kg for the anode material. This effort will lunch ASTRI anode material to become commercially valuable product with industrially viable production process ready to be transferred. (2) Development effort in extending the material synthesis technology to cost effectively produces known (or new) high performance cathode materials. The produced cathode materials will be a composite that consist of homogeneously uniform nano-meter-size primary particles. (3) To verify the produced cathode materials are high performance cathode materials for the next generation LIB after using ASTRI anode material. ASTRI would be benefited via the technology transfer, IP licensing and royalty with Li ion battery manufacturers of PRC and HK (manufacturing >37% world LIB for handset).