Transitioning Advanced Ceramic Electrolytes into Manufacturable Solid-State EV Batteries

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Program:
OPEN 2015
Award:
$4,919,998
Location:
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
06/09/2016 - 05/31/2022

Technology Description:

This endeavor continues an OPEN 2015 project, focusing on scaling the technology initially developed by the University of Michigan from lab to pilot scale. Zakuro LLC (Zakuro) will develop a solid state battery using lithium lanthanum zirconate (LLZO), which is a ceramic electrolyte that contains no flammable liquid. LLZO is manufactured with a lithium-free anode, which substantially simplifies assembly. Zakuro aims to scale up production of the ceramic electrolyte pellets from a lab-scale batch process to an industry-standard, roll-to-roll process to enable efficient application of the cathode layer on the ceramic electrolyte. (The anode is the negative elctrode, and the cathode is the positive electrode in a battery cell.) Zakuro will demonstrate cells with twice the energy density of Li-ion (1000 watts per liter) and high specific energy (333 watts per kilogram). The cell will be able to retain 80% of its capacity after charging and discharging 500 times at 1C-rate, or the rate at which a battery discharges in an hour.

Potential Impact:

Overcoming manufacturing challenges could reduce the cost of solid-state batteries and help enable greater deployment for transportation and stationary storage applications.

Security:

The new solid electrolyte, LLZO, can serve as an effective, safer alternative to state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries employing liquid electrolytes.

Environment:

Widespread deployment of electric vehicles could reduce harmful pollutants from vehicles and improve air quality.

Economy:

This processing approach has the potential to realize manufacturing costs that are equivalent to Li-ion.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Halle Cheeseman
Project Contact:
Dr. Norma Sosa
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
norma.sosa@zakurobattery.com

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Release Date:
01/07/2015