Grant: Alliance Grants

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are promising electrochemical storage technologies for a wide range of energy storage and conversion applications, particularly energy grids and electric vehicles (EVs). However, critical storage capacity and driving range limitations have prompted the development of a new generation of LIBs, equipped with metallic Li anodes that potentially support higher energy density. Widespread deployment of these so-called Li metal batteries has been slow, owing to safety hazards (fires and explosions) linked to Li dendrite formation caused by the technology's conventional liquid electrolytes. The use of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is a promising solution to this problem, offering far superior safety performance. However, the most common SSEs, pure ceramic or polymer based systems are limited by unsatisfactory electrochemical stability and poor interfacial contact with electrodes, or low ionic conductivity and poor thermal stability. Solutions to these critical shortcomings are required to drive Li metal batteries towards commercialization. The proposed project will advance a novel metal organic framework (MOF)-based composite SSE (CSSE), in which MOF systems are highly controllable and offer key advantages of direct growth onto polymer matrices and active material to achieve good stability, low interfacial resistance, higher conductivity, and good flexibility. The resulting technology will satisfy increasingly strict requirements for a good SSE, even under high voltage operation. Specifically, Dr. Zhongwei Chen's group at the University of Waterloo will work with two leading manufacturers of engineered battery platforms and parts, EVT Power Inc. and Forte Mobility Co. Ltd., to fill the knowledge gaps and represent immense progress on Li metal battery technology development. The project will help enable Canadian LIB manufacturers to produce large-scale batteries for EV and energy grid storage applications in Canada and beyond, at a lower cost and with less environmental impact. Moreover, this project will train a new pool of innovators for Canada's energy storage, automobile manufacturing, and transportation industries.