Improving the battery fabrication and testing facility at the University of Calgary

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Batteries are becoming increasingly important as an energy storage device for the automotive and renewable energy sectors. However, the cost, safety and performance limitation in current lithium ion batteries require further development. The University of Calgary in Alberta has recently emphasized low carbon energy conversion and storage research. This proposal goal fully aligns with Canada's research program, “Energy Storage for Grid Security and Modernization program” and "National Research Council Canada's activity on the energy research to tackle the greatest obstacles to adopting and using electrochemical energy storage technologies (batteries), including durability, cost and risk associated with the expansion and application of energy storage in Canada." Part of this research initiative is the development of next-generation high energy and safe all-solid-state lithium batteries. The argon-filled glovebox and the collection of battery fabrication equipment are absolutely critical to the battery prototyping and manufacturing program at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calgary. The glovebox ensures protective environment and safe handling of lithium and sodium metal and other moisture-sensitive materials for forming next-generation Li and Na-ion metal-based batteries while the fabrication equipment allows for reliable and consistent methods of electrode production. Overall, the requested battery testing facility will provide the capacity of producing single cell and battery pack and testing batteries, and will serve as a core facility to advance several group's research on battery materials within the department of chemistry and other groups at the University of Calgary. This world class facility will also enable the training of HQP (~100 students) in the important area of electrochemical energy storage technology.