Solid state electrode development for Li-ion batteries

Reducing fossil fuel use in transportation and utility scale electricity sectors is required to meaningfully reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions and to improve air quality in urban and industrial centres. Lithium ion batteries are beginning replace combustion engines for transportation applications, and show promise as tools that allow power utilities to seamlessly integrate intermittent carbon-free energy sources (i.e. windmills and solar panels) into the electricity grid. Currently, lithium ion batteries are expensive to produce, degrade with extended and intensive use, and do not operate consistently over the environmental conditions seen in Canada (and across the world). This increases the cost of carbon-free energy to consumers, and discourages widescale adoption. We are developing battery materials that are more resilient to intensive use and environmental conditions and manufacturing methods that will lower production costs. This will increase their viable lifetime and operating window, and decrease the cost deploying lithium ion batteries in transportation and utility scale applications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Carolyn Hansson

Student:

Colin Bridges

Partner:

Electrovaya Corp

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Waterloo