SBIR Phase II: High-Performance Batteries to Decarbonize Heavy Duty Construction Equipment

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目的更广泛/商业影响是开发一种新型高性能锂离子电池，使建筑和重型工业中的柴油动力车辆脱碳。目前用于乘用车的电池技术不具备建筑和重型车辆完全电动化所需的电力、寿命和操作窗口。就像汽油发动机不用于这些主力应用一样，需要一种新的电池技术来使这些柴油动力汽车脱碳。建筑和重型汽车行业占全球碳排放量的15%。重要的是，柴油排放物含有高浓度的有毒空气污染物，如硫和一氧化二氮，对健康有严重危害。消除这些排放不仅可以改善劳动力健康，还可以改善工作安全，降低噪音污染。此外，这项技术的发展将减少美国对化石燃料的依赖，并将能源利用转向可再生能源，从而支持能源独立和国家安全。柴油动力汽车行业在汽车电气化方面落后了10多年，而这项技术的发展可以帮助加速其转型。这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目是开发一种3 Ah的锂离子电池，它可以在6分钟内充满电，循环寿命超过10,000次，充放电能力低至-40厘米，使用一种名为氧化钒锂或LVO的新型阳极材料。目前锂电池的主要问题是，它们要么提供高能量密度，但循环寿命很短，要么提供高能量密度，但能量密度很低。柴油动力建筑和重型车辆的运行条件要求LVO提供高功率，高能量和长循环寿命的组合。该项目的研究目标是在第一阶段项目中展示的技术创新的基础上，提供一种基于lvo的规模化锂离子电池。拟议的研究将扩大LVO阳极制造的规模，从更大规模的粉末制备开始，然后是卷对卷电极涂层，最后是完整的3Ah锂离子电池组装。然后，这些锂离子电池将进行性能和安全测试，以验证其是否符合柴油重型和工程车辆脱碳所需的综合功率、寿命和能源目标。这种高性能电池的成功演示将使其具有强大的商业化前景。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a new class of high-performance lithium-ion batteries that enables the decarbonization of diesel-powered vehicles in construction and heavy-duty industries. Current battery technologies being used in passenger cars do not have the combination of power, life, and operating window needed to fully electrify construction and heavy-duty vehicles. Just like gasoline engines are not used in these workhorse applications, a new kind of battery technology is required to decarbonize these diesel-powered vehicles. The construction and heavy-duty vehicle industries are responsible for 15% of worldwide carbon emissions. Importantly, diesel emissions contain high levels of toxic air contaminants such as sulfur and nitrous oxides that are acute health hazards. Elimination of these emissions will not only improve workforce health, but also improve job safety and lower noise pollution. Further, this technology development will reduce the United States’ dependency on fossil fuels and shift energy utilization to renewable sources supporting energy independence and national security. The diesel-powered vehicle industry is over a decade behind in vehicle electrification and the development of this technology can help accelerate its transition.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a 3 Ah lithium-ion battery that enables a full charge in 6 mins, cycle life over 10,000 cycles, and charge or discharge capability down to -40 C using a novel anode material called lithium vanadium oxide or LVO. The main problem with lithium batteries today is they either provide high energy density with very low cycle life or high power with very low energy density. The operating conditions of diesel-powered construction and heavy-duty vehicles require a combination of high power, high energy, and long cycle life that LVO aims to deliver. The research objective for this project is to deliver a scaled LVO-based Li-ion cell based on the technical innovations demonstrated during the Phase I project. The proposed research will scale the LVO anode fabrication starting with larger batch powder preparation then roll-to-roll electrode coating and eventually full 3Ah Li-ion cell assembly. These Li-ion cells will then undergo performance and safety testing to validate meeting the combined power, life, and energy targets needed to decarbonize diesel-powered heavy-duty and construction vehicles. Successful demonstration of this high-performance cell will enable strong commercialization prospects.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.