SBIR Phase I: Ultra High Capacity and High Rate Anodes for Next Generation Lithium-Ion Batteries

该小型企业创新研究第一期项目旨在开发新一代锂离子电池负极材料，具有低成本，高Li+离子存储容量，高倍率和长循环寿命的优点。这些阳极材料是由Si纳米颗粒、碳和纳米石墨烯片（NGP）组成的创新纳米复合材料结构。NGP最近被证明在现有材料中表现出最高的固有强度。本研究旨在通过执行以下任务来证明这种电极技术的技术可行性：（1）基于理论指导的纳米复合颗粒的制备和表征，以及（2）实验室规模电池的循环性能评估。 目标是开发容量超过700 mAh/g的阳极材料。 该项目的更广泛/商业影响是，高容量和高倍率阳极材料的可用性将克服阻碍锂离子电池在电动汽车应用中更广泛应用的障碍之一。如果成功，新的阳极技术有望加快电动汽车先进锂离子电池的开发和部署。 使用这种阳极材料的电池将提高充电/放电速率，并使电动汽车具有更高的里程范围。预计该技术将对该国的几项能源相关举措产生积极影响：减少温室气体和其他排放，减少对进口化石燃料的依赖。 此外，该技术的成功商业化有望提供差异化能力，从而加强美国锂离子电池的开发和制造。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project seeks to develop a new generation of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries having the advantages of low cost, high Li+ ion storage capacity, high rate, and long cycling life. These anode materials are innovative nanocomposite structures made up of Si nano particles, carbon, and nano graphene platelets (NGPs). NGPs were recently shown to exhibit the highest intrinsic strength among existing materials. This reasearch aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of this electrode technology by carrying out the following tasks: (1) preparation and characterization of the nanocomposite particles based on theoretical guidelines, and (2) cycling performance evaluation of laboratory-scale cells. The goal is the development of an anode material with a capacity over 700 mAh/g. The broader/commercial impact of this project is that the availability of a high-capacity and high-rate anode material will overcome one of the barriers that have prevented the more widespread implementation of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicle applications. If successful, the new anode technology is expected to speed the development and deployment of advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The batteries that use this anode material will have enhanced the charge/discharge rates and enable electric vehicles with higher mileage range. The technology is expected to have positive impact in several of the nation's energy-related initiatives: reduction of greenhouse gas and other emissions, and decrease in dependence on imported fossil fuel. Moreover, the successful commercialization of this technology is expected to provide a differentiating capability that can strengthen Li-ion battery development and manufacturing within the US.