Enhanced CNTs for High Power Electrodes (EC-HiPE): Creating a Robust UK Battery Material Supply Chain

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The UK is set to acquire a manufacturing basis of 60-200 GWh capacity per year by 2040 for applications spanning automotive, heavy goods, rail and off-road vehicles. The market requires batteries with long cycle life combined with high power and high energy density enabling quick charge and long travel distance. Unfortunately, current anode technologies trade off energy and power densities (graphite and LTO), while the maturing market requires optimised battery component systems rather than just individual supply chain components. This is particularly relevant to electrode components and formulations of the cathode and the anode, as the anode typically limits charging rates.While advanced anode materials, such as **miXed Niobium Oxide (XNO)**, offer high power and high energy densities, these metal oxides (similarly anodes: niobates, silicones, etc., cathodes: NMC, LFP, etc.) have lower electrical and thermal conductivity due to resistance of electrons, thus rates have to be limited to avoid overheating. To enhance conductivity, electrodes incorporate carbon additives with binders as the active materials. The nature and amount of carbon additive requires optimisation to achieve the necessary conductivity with as little added mass as possible. CNTs are ideal long-range conductive materials and are already used (albeit at a short length ~8µm and adding a relatively large amount of mass) within electrode slurry formulations where they also increase performance and stability enabling long cycle life.This project aims to contribute to the next generation's Li-ion battery supply chain leadership for the UK and its successful placement in the domestic and international markets. It brings together UK's **Ultra Long CNT (UL-CNT)**, with length around 1mm) manufacturer Q-Flo with electrode material manufacturer, Echion, and a knowledge/innovation centre, the **University of Cambridge** (**UoC**). Echion have an established manufacturing capability in Cambridgeshire and a strong supply chain position providing anode materials based on XNO with applications in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. The UoC is an established knowledge centre for engineering and materials innovation and the producer of the IP which led to the independent creation of both Q-Flo and Echion. Matching Echion's anode materials with Q-Flo's highly conductive UL-CNTs will demonstrate a new battery anode low-mass additive for high-power, high energy density and long cycle life batteries.Exploitation of the technology will be achieved by Q-Flo and Echion supplying the UK, continental and world markets.