Fire-Resistant Solid Electrolytes

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Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,342,430
Location:
Las Vegas, Nevada
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
02/14/2013 - 02/13/2016

Technology Description:

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is developing a solid-state, non-flammable electrolyte to make today’s Li-Ion vehicle batteries safer. Today’s Li-Ion batteries use a flammable liquid electrolyte—the material responsible for shuttling Li-Ions back and forth across the battery—that can catch fire when overheated or overcharged. UNLV will replace this flammable electrolyte with a fire-resistant material called lithium-rich anti-perovskite. This new electrolyte material would help make vehicle batteries safer in an accident while also increasing battery performance by extending vehicle range and acceleration.

Potential Impact:

If successful, UNLV’s new fire-resistant solid electrolyte for EV batteries would increase the Li-Ion transporting rate by 10-100 times and greatly enhance the energy density and power capacity of today’s best Li-Ion solid-state batteries.

Security:

Increased use of EVs would decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil—the transportation sector is the dominant source of this dependence.

Environment:

Greater use of EVs would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 28% of which come from the transportation sector.

Economy:

The ability to make higher performance batteries at a lower cost will give U.S. battery manufactures a significant and enduring advantage over their foreign competitors.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Paul Albertus
Project Contact:
Dr. Yusheng Zhao
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
yusheng.zhao@unlv.edu

Partners

K2 Energy Solutions, Inc
University of Texas, Austin
Los Alamos National Laboratory

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Release Date:
03/02/2012