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Vacuum
Deposited Polymer-Ceramic Multi-Layer Anode Stabilization Layers for Protection
of Vacuum Deposited Metallic Li Anodes in Li-S Batteries--Sion
Power Corporation, 9062 S. Rita Road,
Dr.
John Affinito, Principal Investigator, john.affinito@sionpower.com
Dr.
James R. Akridge, Business Official, jamesr.akridge@sionpower.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83777
Amount:
$97,084
In
a conventional Li-S battery, liquid from the electrolyte, along with polysulfide
species migrating from the cathode, attack and corrode the metallic Li anode
during each charge/discharge cycle. These
cumulative processes tie up more and more of the Li in electrochemically
inactive compounds, until the battery can no longer be recharged, thereby
limiting battery lifetimes to typically less than 100 rechargeable cycles.
A
high-rate vacuum deposition process for the fabrication of more
electrochemically robust metallic Li, followed by the vacuum deposition of
Multi-Layer Polymer-Ceramic Anode Stabilization Layers, has already produced an
improved cell that yields more than 300 rechargeable cycles.
This project will perfect the stabilization laminates – in a process
that deposits all layers on a thin, flexible, plastic substrate to be wound into
a Li-S cell – to yield between 500 and 1000 rechargeable cycles.
In Phase I, the efficacy of Multi-Layer Polymer-Ceramic Anode
Stabilization Layers will be demonstrated by building a series of 800
milliamp-hour Li-S cells, both with and without stabilization layers, and
cycling the cells to determine cycle life improvement.
An atmospheric roll-coating process will deposit the Polymer layers,
while all other layers will be deposited in a roll-to-roll vacuum process.
Rolls of substrate will be transferred between the vacuum and atmospheric
coaters. In Phase II, all layers
will be vacuum deposited.
Commercial Applications and Other
Benefits as
described awardee: The high energy density and low weight of these Li-S
batteries should be ideal for powering consumer electronic products along with
numerous industrial, military, aeronautical, and vehicular applications.
Applications include electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles,
portable communications equipment, space borne applications in Low Earth Orbit
and Geo-Synchronous Earth Orbit satellites, and high-rate pulsed power
applications.