I-Corps: Technology Towards Next Generation Batteries

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是应用于消费产品、交通运输和生物医学设备等不断增长的部门的技术的开发，这些部门依赖于便携式和灵活的电力。在消费者需求和政府立法的推动下，锂离子电池市场的估值在2021年已经达到440亿美元。该项目寻求通过电池组件向前迈进一步，电池组件比传统电池更安全，因为它们不受爆炸和火灾的影响，提供灵活的性能，同时提高性能(例如，电动汽车行驶里程)。这个i-Corps项目是基于提高当前锂离子电池的性能和安全性的技术的开发。该技术的多孔、易燃、复合纳米和微结构具有独特的机械和离子导电性能，将提高电动汽车和电动汽车电池制造商生产的电池的寿命和容量，由于测试要求降低而增加制造，并消除与当前电池电解液技术相关的火灾和爆炸风险。通过将聚合物材料的优点(机械坚固性、层次化的纳米和微结构、可扩展的溶液处理)与陶瓷材料的优点(改进的导电性和电化学稳定性)结合在一起，生产出一种比芳纶纤维更坚韧、同时具有离子传输能力的最先进的多孔材料。在电池方面，与目前已知会造成重大火灾和化学风险的液体电解液锂电池相比，这种材料显示出更高的能量密度、更长的循环寿命和前所未有的安全性。此外，材料的有效树枝晶电阻、超高离子传输和电化学稳定性支持了新产品改进的性能和整体影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of technology applied to the ever-growing sectors of consumer products, transportation, and biomedical devices that rely on portable and flexible power. The lithium-ion battery market has already reached a valuation of $44 billion in 2021, driven by both consumer demand and government legislature. This project seeks to offer a step forward via battery components that are safer than conventional batteries in that they are immune to explosions and fires, offer flexible properties, and all the while improve performance (e.g., electric vehicle driving range). This I-Corps project is based on the development of technology that improves both the performance and safety of current lithium-ion batteries. The unique mechanical and ionic conductivity properties of the technology’s porous, inflammable, composite nano- and micro- structures will improve the lifetime and capacity of batteries produced by electric vehicle and electric vehicle battery manufacturers, increase manufacturing due to reduced testing requirements, and remove risks of fire and explosion associated with current battery electrolyte technologies. By marrying the advantages of polymer materials (mechanical robustness, hierarchical nano- and micro-structures, scalable solution processing) with those of ceramics (improved conductivity and electrochemical stability), a state-of-the-art porous material is produced that is tougher than Kevlar with simultaneous ion transport capabilities. In the context of batteries, this material has shown higher energy densities, longer cycle life, and unprecedented safety compared to current liquid electrolyte-based lithium batteries that are known to pose significant fire and chemical risks. Furthermore, effective dendrite resistance, ultra-high ion transport, and electrochemical stability of the materials supports the improved performance and overall impact of the novel product.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.