Grant: Industrial Research Chairs
Dalhousie University
$239,176.00
NSERC/3M Canada Industrial Research Chair in Materials for Advanced Batteries
FY 2011-12
Summary
Lithium-ion batteries have been in the marketplace for 20 years. They store the greatest energy per volume or per mass of any rechargeable battery technology compatible with portable electronics. They have excellent performance and storage characteristics, long charge-discharge cycle life, no memory effect and are available at low cost. As such, they have become the power source of choice for portable electronic devices like laptop computers, cell phones, digital cameras, power tools etc. Lithium-ion batteries are now targetted for electric vehicle and grid energy storage applications. These applications demand batteries that last from 10 (auto) to 30 years (grid). Testing new chemistries in cells under realistic conditions over these time frames is more than the length of a graduate student career (not to mention a professor!) so academics have shied away from such studies. We have recently addressed this problem by demonstrating that precision measurements of the coulombic efficiency of Li-ion batteries, which takes a few weeks, can be used to project the cycle life and lifetime of Li-ion cells. One part of this proposal focuses on precision coulometry measurements, understanding cell degradation mechanisms and inventing solutions for those degradation paths. Additionally, new electrode materials, electrolytes and additives are required to further improve the energy density, lifetime and safety of lithium-ion batteries so that they will be suitable for electrified vehicles and for grid-energy storage. This search can be accelerated using the methods of combinatorial and high throughput materials science where hundreds of samples are synthesized and then tested in a single experiment. The Dahn group is the world leader in combinatorial studies of lithium-ion battery materials. This proposal is supported by 3M and 3M Canada, who are manufacturers of lithium-ion battery materials and E-One/Moli Energy Canada Ltd., a potential user of the new materials and technology developed throughout the course of this work. Other Language Version of Summary
Program
Industrial Research Chairs
Recipient
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
192857-2011
Name nom
Dahn, Jeff
Department département
Physics and Atmospheric Science
Organization id
79
Institution établissement
Dalhousie University
Province en
Nova Scotia
Province fr
Nouvelle-Écosse
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2011
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
239176
Program id
IRCPJ
Program nane en
Industrial Research Chairs
Program name fr
Professeurs-chercheurs industriels
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
141
Committee name en
University/Industry
Committee name fr
Universités/industrie
Area of application code
305
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy storage and conversion
Area of application fr
Stockage et transformation de l'énergie
Research subject code
2008
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Other materials
Research subject fr
Autres matériaux
Partie
16
Nb partie
20
Application title
NSERC/3M Canada Industrial Research Chair in Materials for Advanced Batteries
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Lithium-ion batteries have been in the marketplace for 20 years. They store the greatest energy per volume or per mass of any rechargeable battery technology compatible with portable electronics. They have excellent performance and storage characteristics, long charge-discharge cycle life, no memory effect and are available at low cost. As such, they have become the power source of choice for portable electronic devices like laptop computers, cell phones, digital cameras, power tools etc. Lithium-ion batteries are now targetted for electric vehicle and grid energy storage applications. These applications demand batteries that last from 10 (auto) to 30 years (grid). Testing new chemistries in cells under realistic conditions over these time frames is more than the length of a graduate student career (not to mention a professor!) so academics have shied away from such studies. We have recently addressed this problem by demonstrating that precision measurements of the coulombic efficiency of Li-ion batteries, which takes a few weeks, can be used to project the cycle life and lifetime of Li-ion cells. One part of this proposal focuses on precision coulometry measurements, understanding cell degradation mechanisms and inventing solutions for those degradation paths. Additionally, new electrode materials, electrolytes and additives are required to further improve the energy density, lifetime and safety of lithium-ion batteries so that they will be suitable for electrified vehicles and for grid-energy storage. This search can be accelerated using the methods of combinatorial and high throughput materials science where hundreds of samples are synthesized and then tested in a single experiment. The Dahn group is the world leader in combinatorial studies of lithium-ion battery materials. This proposal is supported by 3M and 3M Canada, who are manufacturers of lithium-ion battery materials and E-One/Moli Energy Canada Ltd., a potential user of the new materials and technology developed throughout the course of this work. Other Language Version of Summary
