Research-to-Adoption of Structured Silicon Anode Technology (SSAT) for Enhanced Safety Fast Charging/Discharging Batteries
Abstract
Funds are provided to the University of Illinois under the (C) FY17E Program Increase for Power Generation and Storage, for Lithium-Ion Battery Safety research. This proposal was selected under ONR FOA N00014-18-S-F004.ABSTRACT:High energy density fast charging/discharging batteries would be transformational for military and commercial applications. However, safety concerns induced by critical battery failure modes such as Li plating on the anode during fast charging, and thermal runaway during fast charging or discharging have prevented adoption of such batteries, especially for safety critical military operations. In collaborative studies performed by research teams from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Xerion Advanced Battery Company, a novel high power structured silicon anode technology (SSAT) has been demonstrated in both coin and pouch cells. The SSAT has exhibited extraordinary safety and electrochemical performances relative to conventional carbon anodes including a higher energy density, faster charge acceptance and discharge rates, and lower susceptibility to Li plating during fast charging. In addition, the SSAT has a greater through-plane thermal conductivity, and a greater thermal stability than a conventional carbon anode.It is anticipated that what is perhaps the most critical safety issue for Li-ion batteries, Li plating during charging, could be prevented by the novel SSAT, which at the same time, also provides enhanced electrochemical performance characteristics relative to conventional anodes. In this Defense University Research-to-Adoption initiative, the research team seeks to mature the SSAT battery with three important safety and reliability enhancement projects. Project 1: SSAT Optimization for Safety and Reliability, Project 2: SSAT Failure Mode, Effect and Criticality Analysis, and Project 3: SSAT-Optimized Battery Thermal and Power Management System. The combined goal of these projects is to take full advantage of the extraordinary performance metrics of the SSAT and its reduced propensity for lithium plating to yield a battery which is attractive to both the defense and commercial sectors. While scale-up of the SSAT has already been initiated by the Xerion team, the research proposed here will make the technology broadly attractive to both the defense and commercial sectors, enabling significant per-unit cost reductions through economies of scale. The research team will perform both experimental investigations and multiphysics based simulations, and conduct head-to-head tests with existing state-of-the art energystorage technologies to demonstrate the value of broad adoption of SSAT-based energy storage systems. The team will also design battery management systems which take full advantage of the unique characteristics of SSAT-based batteries to further reduce barriers to adoption.The research team has workforce & professional development activities and research engagements planned with U.S. military-associated organizations including the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) FFRDC, the U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center in Champaign, IL, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. As outlined in the letters of support, the team has technology commercialization, ecosystem advancement, and workforce development activities planned with U.S. companies including John Deere, United Technologies, and CU Aerospace. Additional workforce & professional development activities include Illinois Engineering senior design projects (see letter), undergraduate internships at Xerion and Illinois, short courses on research to adoption of energy storage systems, including at POETS (see letter), and outreach to early-stage entrepreneurs and the university research park. To ensure strong participation in these various activities by veterans and other members of the military community, the Coordinator of Veteran Student Support Services in the Office of the Dean of Students will assist with ou
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812394
Entities
People
- Paul V Braun
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign