Grant: Industrial Research Chairs

Inexpensive and practical energy storage is key to the use of renewable resources and the implementation of electric vehicles. In this Research Program, materials will be developed to reduce the cost and increase the energy storage capacity of Li-ion batteries. In addition, completely new battery chemistries will be developed based on sodium, which are expected to have high energy density, but be less costly and based on more sustainable materials than current Li-ion batteries.This Research Program will involve the design, synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of new nanocomposite alloy materials with over double the lithium storage capacity as the graphite used in Li-ion cells today. We have already demonstrated such materials in the lab. The research here will focus on their implementation in practical batteries. This means designing new materials that are compatible with Li-ion batteries, have long lifetimes, are safe, and are inexpensive to make. As a result, we expect to developmaterials that can be practically implemented and will significantly increase the energy stored in Li-ion batteries.The Research Program will also include research in Na-ion batteries. This involves creating a whole new battery chemistry, including positive electrode materials research, negative electrode materials research, and electrolyte studies. Finally, the safety of these materials will be studied to ensure that they can be used in practical batteries. New batteries that are less expensive than Li-ion batteries and based on sustainable materials are expected to result from this Research Program.