No More Exploding Laptop Batteries?
May 2, 2010 by AboutNanoWires.com · Leave a Comment
Aww darn, no more cool explosions from exploding laptop batteries! STOBA, a new material technology will steal the joy of seeing your laptop explode from faulty batteries. Boy, it seemed like a week didn’t pass without Apple, Toshiba laptop battery, Sony, Dell laptop battery, Sanyo, Lenovo, or some other laptop manufacturer issuing a battery recall due to exploding batteries. Well, apparently STOBA will make consumer electronics safer.
Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has developed STOBA, a material technology that prevents lithium-ion batteries from overheating, catching fire or exploding.
Check out a video of how the technology works, including a demonstration on why lithium-ion batteries explode. There is an animated explosion in the demo, so enjoy.
ITRI’s STOBA material technology for Lithium-ion batteries has received a 2009 R&D 100 Award.
Innovative Technology is First to Ensure the Safety of Lithium-ion Batteries
Used in Many Consumer Electronics and Electric Vehicles
HSINCHU, Taiwan, Nov. 12, 2009 – ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute), Taiwan’s largest and one of the world’s leading high-tech research and development institutions, will accept a “2009 R&D 100 Award in Energy Devices” today, in Orlando, Fla., for developing STOBA (self-terminated oligomers with hyper-branched architecture), the first technology to enhance the safety of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
“It is a great honor to be recognized by a publication as prestigious and influential as R&D Magazine,” said Dr. Alex Peng, senior research scientist and deputy general director at ITRI’s Material and Chemical Research Laboratories (MCL). “During the past five years, the STOBA team worked diligently to develop this technology. They have truly earned this achievement.”
Li-ion batteries, the power source for many consumer electronic devices, including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, cameras, and hybrid and electric cars, are susceptible to overheating, which can cause fires and explosions. In the past, safety standards for Li-ion batteries could not be raised because there was no solution available.
To meet the growing demand for high-safety lithium batteries, ITRI successfully developed STOBA, which has fundamentally resolved the safety issue. By integrating a nano-grade high-molecular polymer, which forms a protective film, into the Li-ion battery, a locking effect is generated when the battery encounters excessive heat, external impact or piercing and interrupts the electrical and chemical action, preventing explosions. In 2008 and 2009, STOBA passed the mandatory shorting and piercing experiments conducted by battery manufacturers in Japan and Taiwan. These intensive nail penetration and impact tests confirmed STOBA’s effectiveness in preventing internal shorting and overheating in Li-ion batteries.
For the past 47 years, The R&D 100 Awards have annually identified and recognized the 100 most significant and revolutionary technologies newly introduced to the market. Past winning technologies include the printer (1986) and HDTV (1998). An R&D 100 Award serves as a mark of excellence to industry, government and academia and confirms the technology is one of the top innovations of the year. This year’s winners will be honored at a ceremony this evening in Orlando, Fla.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a nonprofit R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical services. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan’s economy from a labor-intensive industry to a high-tech industry. Numerous well-known high-tech companies in Taiwan, such as leaders in the semiconductor industry TSMC and UMC, can trace their origins to ITRI.
Innovative Research
ITRI is a multidisciplinary research center, with six core laboratories, five focus centers, five linkage centers, several leading labs and various business development units. The six fields ITRI focuses on include Information and Communication; Electronics and Optoelectronics; Material, Chemical and Nanotechnologies; Biomedical Technologies; Advanced Manufacturing and Systems; and Energy and Environment. ITRI has aggressively researched and developed countless next-generation technologies, including WIMAX wireless broadband, solar cells, RFID, light electric vehicles, flexible displays, 3-D ICs and telecare technologies. In addition, ITRI’s Flexible Electronics Pilot Lab and Nanotechnology Lab provide international-level research platforms where R&D can be conducted jointly with partners. ITRI has also seen significant growth in intellectual property business and new ventures in recent years and is devoted to creating a model that would make Taiwan manufacturing even more competitive in the international arena.
Fostering Entrepreneurship and CEO Leadership
ITRI employs 5,800 personnel, including 1,112 who hold Ph.D.s and 3,206 with master’s degrees, resulting in an average of five patents produced every day. By disseminating both technology and talent, ITRI has led the technology industry into the 21st century and has cultivated 70 CEOs in the local high-tech industry. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the California Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Berlin and Moscow.
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New nanomaterials for light weight lithium batteries
May 2, 2010 by AboutNanoWires.com · Leave a Comment
Product Description
This digital document is a journal article from Analytica Chimica Acta, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
Technological improvements, allowing to manipulate and investigate the properties of nanomaterials, are nowadays changing the approach to the energy storage and power supply vision. Modern nanoscale techniques led the market in the realization of nanostructured inorganic and organic materials increasing the efficiency of different devices, like lithium batteries, one of the most promising energy storage elements, obtaining everyday higher values of capacity, cyclability and environmental resistance. Each part of the battery, the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte, are here described analyzing the nanomaterials used for their realization.
BUY FROM AMAZON–>> New nanomaterials for light weight lithium batteries
Worldwide Nanotechnology Thin Film Lithium-Ion Battery Market Shares Strategies, And Forecasts, 2009-2015-Aarkstore Enterprise
April 29, 2010 by AboutNanoWires.com · Leave a Comment
Worldwide nanotechnology thin film lithium-ion batteries are poised to achieve significant growth as units become more able to achieve deliver of power to electric vehicles efficiently. Less expensive lithium-ion batteries allow leveraging economies of scale and proliferation of devices into a wide range of applications. According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, “Economies of scale leverage the lithium-ion battery nanotechnology advances needed to make lithium-ion batteries competitive. Nanotechnology provided by lithium-ion research solves the issues poised by the need to store renewable energy. Lithium-ion batteries switch price reductions are poised to drive market adoption by making units affordable.”
Nanotechnology results obtained in the laboratory are being translated into commercial products. The processes of translating the nanotechnology science into thin film lithium ion batteries are anticipated to be ongoing. The breakthroughs of science in the laboratory have only begun to be translated into life outside the lab, with a long way to go in improving the functioning of the lithium-ion batteries. Unlike any other battery technology, thin film solid-state batteries show very high cycle life. Using very thin cathodes (0.05µm) batteries have been cycled in excess of 45,000 cycles with very limited loss in capacity. After 45,000 cycles, 95% of the original capacity remained.
Then there is the problem of translating the evolving technology into manufacturing process. What this means is that the market will be very dynamic, with the market leaders continuously being challenged by innovators, large and small that develop more cost efficient units. Systems integration and manufacturing capabilities have developed a broad family of high-power lithium-ion batteries and battery systems. A family of battery products, combined with strategic partner relationships in the transportation, electric grid services and portable power markets, position vendors to address these markets for lithium-ion batteries.
Electric Vehicles depend on design, development, manufacture, and support of advanced, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Batteries provide a combination of power, safety and life. Next-generation energy storage solutions are evolving as commercially available batteries. Lithium-ion batteries will play an increasingly important role in facilitating a shift toward cleaner forms of energy.
Innovative approaches to materials science and battery engineering are available from a large number of very significant companies — GE, Panasonic Sanyo / Matsushita Industrial Co., Ltd., NEC, Saft, Toshiba, BYD / Berkshire Hathaway, LG Chem, Altair Nanotechnologies, Samsung, Sony, A123 Systems with MIT technology, and Altair Nanotechnologies.
Markets for lithium-ion batteries at $911 million in 2008 are anticipated to reach $9.1 billion by 2015, growing in response to decreases in unit costs and increases. Lithiumion batteries used in cell phones and PCs, and in cordless power tools are proving the technology. Units are shipped into military markets and are used in satellites, proving the feasibility of systems. Small, lithium-ion prismatic batteries prove the feasibility of this technology. The large emerging markets are for hybrid and electric vehicles powered by renewable energy systems.
Report Methodology
This is the 399th report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, and telephone equipment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases. Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.
Table of Contents :
Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Executive Summary ES-1
Worldwide Nanotechnology Thin Film Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Driving Forces ES-1
Market Driving Forces ES-2
Nanotechnology Forms the Base for Lithium-Ion Batteries ES-7
Competitors ES-7
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Shares ES-7
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Forecasts ES-9
1. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery
Market Description and Market Dynamics 1-1
1.1 Lithium-Ion Battery Target Markets 1-1
1.1.1 Project Better Place and the Renault-Nissan Alliance 1-2
1.1.2 Largest Target Market, The Transportation Industry 1-3
1.1.3 Electric Grid Services Market 1-4
1.1.4 Portable Power Market, Power Tools 1-5
1.2 Lithium-Ion Battery Technologies Transportation
Industry Target Market 1-7
1.3 Energy Storage For Grid Stabilization 1-11
1.3.1 Local Energy Storage Benefit For Utilities 1-12
1.4 Applications Require On-Printed Circuit
Board Battery Power 1-13
1.4.1 Thin-film vs. Printed Batteries 1-13
1.5 Smart Buildings 1-14
1.5.1 Permanent Power for Wireless Sensors 1-16
1.6 Battery Safety / Potential Hazards 1-17
1.7 Thin Film Solid-State Battery Construction 1-18
1.8 Battery Is Electrochemical Device 1-20
1.9 Battery Depends On Chemical Energy 1-21
1.9.1 Characteristics Of Battery Cells 1-21
1.9.2 Batteries Are Designed Differently For Various Applications 1-23
2. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market
Shares and Market Forecasts 2-1
2.1 Worldwide Nanotechnology Thin Film Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Driving Forces 2-1
2.1.1 Market Driving Forces 2-2
2.1.2 Nanotechnology Forms the Base for Lithium-Ion Batteries 2-7
2.1.3 Competitors 2-7
2.2 Lithium-Ion Battery Market Shares 2-7
2.2.1 ExxonMobil Affiliate in Japan / Tonen Chemical 2-10
2.3 Lithium-Ion Battery Market Forecasts 2-11
2.4 Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Vehicle Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Shares 2-14
2.4.1 BYD 2-16
2.4.2 Johnson Controls-Saft 2-16
2.4.3 Saft Battery Technologies 2-17
2.4.4 A123Systems 32 Series Automotive Class
Lithium Ion™ Cells: 2-17
2.4.5 NEC and Nissen 2-19
2.4.6 LG Chem 2-20
2.4.7 EnerDel 2-20
2.4.8 Competition 2-20
2.5 Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Forecasts 2-21
2.5.1 Largest Target Market, The Transportation Industry 2-25
Thin Film Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery EV Market 2-27
Thin Film Lithium-Ion And Lithium Polymer Automotive Batteries 2-27
2.6 Thin-Film and Printed Batteries: On-Board
Solutions for Low-Power Electronics 2-29
2.6.1 Solicore Tiny Flat Battery 2-31
2.6.2 Thin-Film, Organic, and Printed Batteries:
On-Board Solutions for Low-Power Electronics 2-32
2.7 Cell Phone, Communications, And PC Lithium-Ion
Battery Technology Markets Discussion 2-33
2.7.1 Samsung SDI 2-33
2.7.2 BYD 2-33
2.7.3 Saft 2-33
2.7.4 Portable Power Competition 2-34
2.8 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Portable Power
Market, Power Tools Market Shares 2-34
2.8.1 A123 Systems 2-36
2.9 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Portable Power,
Power Tools Market Forecasts 2-37
2.10 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Electric
Grid Services Markets 2-40
2.10.1 Electric Grid Services 2-42
2.11 Thin Film Lithium-Ion Battery Market Positioning 2-43
2.11.1 US And Its Allies Are Changing The Military Landscape 2-48
2.12 Digital Device Battery Forecasts 2-51
3. Thin Film Lithium-Ion Battery Product Description 3-1
3.1 A123 Systems 3-1
3.1.1 A123 Systems Lithium Ion Cell Construction
Based On A Dual Plate Tubular Design 3-4
3.1.2 A123Systems 32 Series Automotive Class
Lithium Ion™ Cells: 3-5
3.1.3 GM and A123Systems Co-Develop
Lithium-Ion Battery Cell for Chevrolet Volt 3-11
3.1.4 A123Systems / GE Production Contract for
Norewegian Think Electric Vehicles 3-12
3.1.5 A123Systems Patent for Nanophosphate™
Lithium Ion Battery Technology 3-14
3.2 LG Chem 3-15
3.2.1 LG Lithium-Ion Cylindrical Battery 3-15
3.2.2 LG Lithium-ion Polymer Battery 3-15
3.2.3 LG Lithium-ion Battery Prismatic Type 3-17
3.2.4 LG Chem 3-17
3.3 SAFT 3-18
3.3.1 Saft Lithium-ion (Li-ion) Batteries 3-18
3.3.2 Saft is Li-ion Batteries For Commercial
GEO Satellites to JSC ISS of Russia 3-19
3.3.3 Saft Contract To Power Hybrid Electric Mobile
Utility Systems From Titan Energy Development 3-21
3.3.4 Saft and ABB Develop New High Voltage Li-ion
Battery System 3-22
3.3.5 Saft Hybrid Battery Technology for Wisconsin Clean Energy 3-24
3.3.6 Saft High-Energy Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries For Raytheon 3-25
3.3.7 Saft Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Battery Backup Systems 3-25
3.3.8 Saft Energy Storage As A Key
Renewable Energy Enabling Technology 3-26
3.3.9 Saft / Solion Large Li-ion batteries 3-27
3.3.10 Saft Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-So2) Batteries 3-31
3.3.11 Saft Lithium Technologies 3-32
3.3.12 Saft Lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) 3-32
3.3.13 Lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) – LS/LST/LSG cell ranges 3-35
3.3.14 Saft Small LS/LST bobbin cells 3-36
3.3.15 Saft Large LS/T bobbin cells 3-38
3.3.16 Saft Lithium-Manganese Dioxide (Li-MnO2) 3-43
3.3.17 Saft Lithium-ion (Li-ion) 3-43
3.4 BYD 3-50
3.4.1 Warren Buffett Buys 10 Percent Stake In BYD
Chinese Battery Manufacturer 3-50
3.4.2 BYD Battery Expertise 3-52
3.5 Panasonic / Sanyo 3-53
3.6 Samsung 3-54
3.7 Ener1 / EnerDel 3-55
3.7.1 EnerDel Lithium-Ion Prismatic Design 3-56
3.7.2 EnerDel Addressing Market Demand for
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) 3-56
3.7.3 EnerDel 5Amp Battery Pack 3-60
3.8 Imara 3-60
3.9 ExxonMobil Affiliate in Japan / Tonen Chemical 3-62
3.9.1 Tonen Chemical Leading Supplier Of Separators
For Lithium Ion Batteries 3-63
3.10 NEC 3-63
3.10.1 Nissan and NEC Group 3-64
3.10.2 Nissan And NEC Joint Venture 3-65
3.10.3 NEC High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Employ A Compact Laminated Configuration 3-66
3.10.4 NEC / Nissan Low-Cost Lithium-Manganese Batteries 3-67
3.10.5 NEC Lamilion Energy 3-68
3.10.6 NEC Subaru 3-68
3.10.7 NEC Thin Film Battery Has Sixteen Modules
Consisting Of Twelve Cells, Serially Connected 3-69
3.10.8 NEC / Subaru Thin Film Battery Flat Shape 3-69
3.11 Sony 3-71
3.12 Matshushita Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) 3-73
3.12.1 Panasonic Lithium Batteries 3-74
3.12.2 Panasonic Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries 3-75
3.13 E-One Moli Energy 3-79
3.13.1 Product Data Sheets 3-81
3.14 QuantumSphere 3-82
3.15 Solicore Ultra Thin-Film Battery 3-84
3.15.1 Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Batteries 3-86
3.15.2 Solicore Flexion Lithium Powered Cards 3-87
3.15.3 Solicore RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Devices 3-89
3.15.4 Solicore’s Flexion® Batteries Bluechip Million Unit Purchase 3-90
3.15.5 Solicore Supports Smart Cards 3-91
3.16 Cymbet EnerChip™ Solid-State, Rechargeable
Thin-Film Batteries 3-92
3.16.1 Cymbet Enerchip™ Sensors Support 3-94
3.17 Front Edge Technology 3-95
3.18 Excellatron Thin-Film Micro-Batteries 3-95
3.18.1 Contrast To Conventional Lithium Cells 3-95
3.18.2 Excellatron Market Advantage 3-97
3.18.3 Excellatron Battery Current State of the Art 3-99
3.18.4 Excellatron Battery Intrinsically Safe 3-101
3.18.5 High Temperature Performance of
Excellatron Thin Film Batteries 3-101
3.18.6 Excellatron Long Cycle Life 3-109
3.18.7 Excellatron Polymer Film Substrate for Thin Flexible Profile 3-111
3.18.8 Excellatron Unique Proprietary Passivation
Barrier and Packaging Solution 3-113
3.19 Front Edge 50,000 Prototypes Of Nanoenergy Batteries 3-117
3.19.1 Front Edge Technology (FET) 3-117
3.20 Infinite Power Solutions (IPS) Flexible Thin-Film Batteries 3-127
3.20.1 Infinite Power Solutions 3-129
3.21 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy 3-130
3.21.1 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy Thin Film Batteries 3-132
3.22 Energizer 3-132
3.22.1 Energizer Holdings 3-133
3.23 Valence 3-134
3.23.1 PVI for Valence’s U-Charge(R) XP Energy Storage Systems 3-134
3.23.2 Valence Lithium Phosphate 3-135
3.23.3 Valence Lithium Phosphate Stability and Dependability 3-137
3.23.4 Valence Safety Focus 3-137
3.23.5 Valence Lithium Phosphate Alternative to Lead-Acid 3-138
3.23.6 Valence Lithium Phosphate Storage and Run-Time 3-138
3.23.7 Valence Lithium Phosphate Safety and Maintenance Free 3-138
3.24 ITN Energy Systems 3-139
3.24.1 ITN Intelligent Processing, Sensors, & Controls: 3-142
3.24.2 ITN Control: 3-144
3.24.3 ITN Sensors 3-147
3.24.4 ITN Unique Sensors: X-Ray Fluorescence And
Parallel Detection Spectroscopic Ellipsometer 3-148
3.25 ULVAC 3-159
3.26 Intersil 3-159
4. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Technology 4-1
4.1 Vendor Lithium-ion Battery Strategy 4-1
4.1.1 Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Characteristics 4-2
4.2 Challenges in Battery Design 4-3
4.2.1 Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries Requirements 4-7
4.3 Vendor Lithium-Ion Battery Positioning 4-8
4.3.1 High-Quality, Volume Manufacturing Facilities 4-10
4.4 Applications Of Lithium-Ion Batteries 4-11
4.5 Mobile Phone Industry 4-12
4.5.1 Nanowires 4-13
4.5.2 Thin Film Battery Enabling Chemistries 4-13
4.5.3 The Cathodes 4-14
4.5.4 Solid State Devices Provide More Energy Density 4-14
4.6 Advantages of Lithium-Ion Batteries 4-15
4.6.1 Lithium-Ion Battery Shortcomings 4-18
4.6.2 Charging 4-19
4.6.3 Applications 4-19
4.6.4 Costs 4-20
4.7 Lithium Cell Chemistry Variants 4-20
4.7.1 Lithium-ion 4-21
4.7.2 Lithium-ion Polymer 4-22
4.7.3 Other Lithium Cathode Chemistry Variants 4-23
4.7.4 Lithium Cobalt LiCoO2 4-23
4.7.5 Lithium Manganese LiMn2O4 4-23
4.7.6 Lithium Nickel LiNiO2 4-24
4.7.7 Lithium (NCM) Nickel Cobal Manganese – Li(NiCoMn)O2 4-24
4.7.8 Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO4 4-24
4.8 Operating Performance Of The Cell Can Be Tuned 4-25
4.9 Lithium Metal Polymer 4-26
4.9.1 Lithium Sulphur Li2S8 4-26
4.9.2 Alternative Anode Chemistry 4-26
4.10 ExxonMobil affiliate, Tonen Chemical
Polyethylene-Based, Porous Film 4-27
4.11 Cymbet Alternate Manufacturing 4-27
4.12 Thin-Film Batteries Packaging 4-27
4.13 ITN Energy Systems Fibrous Substrates, PowerFiber 4-28
4.13.1 ITN Sensors 4-31
4.14 Cell Construction 4-32
4.15 Impact Of Nanotechnology 4-33
4.16 Thin Film Batteries 4-34
4.16.1 Thin Film Battery Timescales and Costs 4-37
4.16.2 High Power And Energy Density 4-37
4.16.3 High Rate Capability 4-38
4.17 Comparison Of Rechargeable Battery Performance 4-39
4.18 Polymer Film Substrate 4-45
4.19 Micro Battery Solid Electrolyte 4-46
5.1 Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Lithium-Ion Company Profiles 5-1
5.1 Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Lithium-Ion 5-1
5.2 A123 Systems 5-1
5.2.1 A123 Systems Revenue 5-1
5.2.2 A123Systems Registration Statement for Initial Public Offering 5-2
5.2.3 A123 Systems Batteries Benefits 5-2
5.2.4 A123 Systems Competitive Advantage 5-4
5.2.5 A123 Systems Strategy 5-7
5.2.6 A123Systems and GE 5-8
5.2.7 A123 Acquisition of Hymotion 5-9
5.2.8 Procter & Gamble Duracell and A123 Systems Collaborate 5-10
5.2.9 Cobasys and A123 Systems 5-10
5.3 Advanced Cerametrics 5-11
5.4 Altair Nanotechnologies 5-12
5.4.1 Altair Nanotechnologies Power and Energy Group 5-12
5.4.2 Altair Nanotechnologies Performance Materials Division 5-12
5.4.3 Altair Nanotechnologies Life Sciences Division 5-14
5.4.4 Altair Nanotechnologies One-Megawatt Battery
System Available for Commercial Operation by AES
Energy Storage, LLC 5-14
5.4.5 Altair Nanotechnologies Revenues 5-15
5.5 Applied Data 5-16
5.6 Bekaert 5-16
5.7 Robert Bosch GmbH 5-17
5.8 Boston Power / Sonata 5-17
5.9 BYD 5-21
5.9.1 Warren Buffett Buys 10 Percent Stake In BYD
Chinese Battery Manufacturer 5-21
5.10 Cymbet 5-23
5.10.1 Cymbet Thin-Film, Solid-State Battery Technology 5-23
5.10.2 Cymbet and ANT Wireless Sensor Network 5-23
5.10.3 Garmin International ANT™ Wireless Network 5-25
5.11 Dow 5-25
5.12 E-One Moli Energy Group 5-26
5.13 Ener1 5-27
5.13.1 Ener1 Third Quarter 2008 Revenue 5-27
5.13.2 Ener1 Positioning Technology Originally
Pioneered By Argonne National Lab 5-30
5.13.3 Ener1 Acquires Enertech Leading Korean
Lithium-ion Battery Cell Producer 5-31
5.13.4 Ener1 / Enertech Specializes In Producing
Large Format Flat (“Prismatic”) Cells 5-32
5.13.5 EnerDel Operations 5-34
5.14 Energizer 5-39
5.15 Excellatron 5-44
5.16 Exon 5-45
5.16.1 ExxonMobil Chemical / Tonen Chemical Corporation 5-46
5.17 Front Edge Technology (FET) 5-47
5.18 GE 5-47
5.18.1 GE Global Research 5-48
5.18.2 GE Energy Financial Services 5-48
5.19 GM 5-48
5.19.1 General Motors Faces Bankruptcy 5-50
5.20 Ignite 5-51
5.21 IPS 5-51
5.22 Johnson Controls-Saft 5-52
5.23 KSW Microtec 5-52
5.24 LG Petrochemical 5-53
5.24.1 LG Chem 5-54
5.25 MMT Funds 5-54
5.26 NEC 5-54
5.26.1 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., NEC, And Subsidiary
NEC TOKIN Joint-Venture Company – Automotive
Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) – 5-55
5.26.2 First Commercial Application For AESC’s Li-Ion Batteries 5-57
5.26.3 NEC TOKIN Lithium-Manganese Electrodes by 2009 5-59
5.26.4 Nissan Partnership With NEC 5-59
5.26.5 NEC Lamilion Energy 5-60
5.27 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy 5-60
5.28 Panasonic / Sanyo 5-61
5.29 QuantumSphere 5-63
5.30 Saft 5-64
5.30.1 Saft Battery Technologies 5-66
5.30.2 Saft Industrial Battery Group (IBG) 5-68
5.30.3 Saft Specialty Battery Group (SBG) 5-69
5.30.4 Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems (RBS) 5-71
5.30.5 Saft Research and Development 5-71
5.30.6 Johnson Controls-Saft United States Advanced
Battery Consortium (USABC) 5-72
5.31 Samsung 5-73
5.32 Solicore 5-73
5.32.1 Solicore’s Flexion® Batteries Bluechip Million Unit Purchase 5-74
5.32.2 Solicore Embedded Power Solutions 5-75
5.33 Think 5-75
5.34 Valence 5-76
5.34.1 Valence Strategy 5-77
5.34.2 Phases Of Valence Business Strategy 5-78
5.35 Ulvac 5-80
Tables and Figures
Table ES-1 ES-4
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Driving Forces
Table ES-2 ES-6
Energy Advantages Of Thin-Film Batteries
Figure ES-3 ES-8
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure ES-4 ES-10
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Table 1-1 1-3
Principal Features Used To Compare Rechargeable Batteries
Figure 1-2 1-8
BMW’s Mini E Electric Car Powered By A Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
Table 1-3 1-9
Examples of Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Figure 1-4 1-19
Typical Structure Of A Thin Film Solid State Battery
Table 1-5 1-22
Characteristics Of Battery Cells
Table 2-1 2-4
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Driving Forces
Table 2-2 2-6
Energy Advantages Of Thin-Film Batteries
Figure 2-3 2-8
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Table 2-4 2-9
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-5 2-12
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-6 2-13
Worldwide Lithium-Ion and Advanced Lithium-ion
Battery Market Forecasts, Automotive, Power Tools,
Electric Grid, and PC Card, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-7 2-14
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Automotive Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-8 2-15
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Automotive Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-9 2-21
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-10 2-22
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Units, 2009-2015
Figure 2-11 2-23
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Units and Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-12 2-30
Worldwide PC Card On Board Lithium-Ion Batteries
Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-13 2-35
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Cordless Tool Advanced Battery Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Table 2-14 2-36
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Cordless Tool Advanced Battery Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-15 2-38
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Battery Portable Power
Tool and Advanced Portable Battery Shipments,
Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-16 2-41
Worldwide Electric Grid Lithium-Ion Battery
Storage Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Table 2-17 2-45
Commercialization Challenges Of The Automotive,
Truck, and Bus Thin Film Battery Industry
Table 2-18 2-47
Integrated Thin Film Battery Personal Transport
Power Systems
Table 2-19 2-49
Requirements For Advanced Power Sources In A
Variety Of Military Applications
Table 2-20 2-50
Large-Format Lithium-Ion Battery Key Advantages
Table 2-20 (Continued) 2-51
Large-Format Lithium-Ion Battery Key Advantages
Figure 3-1 3-2
A123 Systems Lithium Ion Battery
Table 3-2 3-3
A123 Systems APR18650M1 Features
Figure 3-3 3-4
A123 Systems lithium ion battery Cells: 26650
Figure 3-4 3-5
A123 Cells: 32 Series
Figure 3-5 3-7
A123 Systems Hybrid Characteristics
Figure 3-6 3-8
A123 Systems Hybrid Discharge Characteristics
Table 3-7 3-9
A123 Systems Benefits…
Table 3-8 3-10
A123 Systems Heavy Duty Custom and Standard Solutions
Figure 3-9 3-16
LG Chem Lithium-Ion Batteries
Table 3-10 3-32
Saft Lithium Technologies
Table 3-11 3-33
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Main applications
Table 3-11 (Continued) 3-34
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Main applications
Figure 3-12 3-35
Saft Non Rechargeable Battery
Table 3-13 3-39
Saft Lithium-Ion Construction Features
Table 3-14 3-40
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Benefits
Figure 3-15 3-42
Saft Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-SO2) Batteries
Table 3-16 3-44
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-45
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-46
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-47
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-48
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-49
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Figure 3-17 3-57
EnerDel Automotive Battery
Table 3-18 3-58
EnerDel Lithium Ion Battery System for HEVs
Table 3-19 3-59
EnerDel Automotive Battery Features
Table 3-20 3-60
Imara Thin Film Battery Cells
Figure 3-21 3-65
NEC Fuel Cells and Catalysts
Table 3-22 3-72
Key Features of Sony NP-FP71 Hybrid Lithium Ion
Rechargeable Battery
Table 3-22 (Continued) 3-73
Key Features of Sony NP-FP71 Hybrid Lithium Ion
Rechargeable Battery
Figure 3-23 3-74
Panasonic Lithium Batteries
Figure 3-24 3-75
Panasonic Lithium-Ion Rechargable Batteries
Table 3-25 3-76
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries Features:
Table 3-26 3-76
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries
Table 3-27 3-77
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries
Table 3-28 3-85
Solicore Flexion Battery Product Features:
Table 3-29 3-86
Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Battery Applications
Table 3-30 3-87
Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Battery Uses
Figure 3-31 3-88
Solicore Flexion High Temperature Batteries Survive Lamination
Table 3-31A 3-89
Solicore RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Applications
Table 3-32 3-96
Excellatron Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Features
Table 3-33 3-97
Excellatron Battery Advantages
Table 3-34 3-99
Excellatron Battery Thin Film Solid State Battery Components
Figure 3-35 3-102
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Charge/Discharge Profile at 25ºC.
Figure 3-36 3-103
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Charge/Discharge
Profile At 150ºC.
Figure 3-37 3-104
Excellatron High Temperature (150ºC) Charge And
Discharge Capacity
Figure 3-38 3-106
Excellatron Capacity And Resistance Of Thin Film Battery
As A Function Of Temperature
Figure 3-39 3-106
Excellatron’s Battery (0.1 mAh) Discharged By A 100 mA
Pulse at 80ºC.
Figure 3-40 3-108
Excellatron High Rate Pulse Discharge
Figure 3-41 3-109
Long Term Cyclability Of A Thin Film Solid State Battery
Figure 3-42: 3-110
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Long Term Cyclability
Figure 3-43 3-111
Discharge Capacity Of Several Typical Cathode Materials
Figure 3-44: 3-112
Excellatron Thin film batteries deposited on a thin polymer substrate.
Figure 3-45 3-114
Excellatron Proprietary Passivation Barrier and Packaging
Table 3-46 3-115
Comparison Of Battery Performances
Figure 3-47 3-131
Oak Ridge Construction of a Thin Film Battery
Table 3-48 3-136
Key Features of Valence Lithium Phosphate Technology
Table 3-49 3-139
ITN Commercial Markets:
Figure 3-50 3-140
ITN Thin Film Battery:
Table 3-51 3-141
ITN Thin Film Battery Design Features/Advantages
Table 3-52 3-142
ITN Thin Film Battery Economical production
Table 3-53 3-143
ITN Thin Film Battery Strengths
Figure 3-54 3-145
ITN Intelligent Process Control
Figure 3-55 3-146
Framework of Intelligent Processing of Materials
Figure 3-56 3-149
XRF Instrument Developed by ITN Used on a System
Figure 3-57 3-150
Thin Film Deposition
Figure 3- 58 3-150
ITP Thin-film Process
Table 3-59 3-151
Thin-film Process Capabilities
Table 3-60 3-152
ITNThin-film Material Processing Experience Metals
Table 4-1 4-4
Challenges in Lithium-ion Battery Design
Table 4-2 4-35
Thin Film Battery Unique Properties
Table 4-3 4-38
Comparison of battery performances
Table 4-4 4-40
Comparison of battery performances
Table 4-5 4-42
Thin Films For Advanced Batteries
Table 4-6 4-43
Thin Film Batteries Technology
Table 4-7 4-44
Thin Film Battery / Lithium Air Batteries Applications
Figure 4-8 4-45
Polymer Film Substrate Thin Flexible battery Profiles
Figure 4-9 4-46
Design Alternatives of Thin Film Rechargable Batteries
Table 5-1 5-3
A123 Systems Batteries Benefits
Table 5-2 5-5
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Table 5-2 (Continued) 5-6
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Table 5-2 (Continued) 5-7
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Figure 5-3 5-19
Boston-Power Charge Curve
Figure 5-4 5-20
Boston-Power Discharge Curve
Figure 5-5 5-35
EnerDel Operations
Figure 5-6 5-36
EnerDel Lithium Power Systems
Figure 5-7 5-37
EnerDel Lithium Power USABC Contracts
Figure 5-8 5-38
EnerDel Lithium Power Think Projct
Figure 5-9 5-63
Sanyo Battery Targets 2020
Figure 5-10 5-65
Saft Sales Segments Half 1, 2008
Figure 5-11 5-67
Saft Revenue H1 2008
Figure 5-12 5-81
Ulvac Vacuum Pumps, Gauges, and Valves
Worldwide nanotechnology thin film lithium-ion batteries are poised to achieve significant growth as units become more able to achieve deliver of power to electric vehicles efficiently. Less expensive lithium-ion batteries allow leveraging economies of scale and proliferation of devices into a wide range of applications. According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, “Economies of scale leverage the lithium-ion battery nanotechnology advances needed to make lithium-ion batteries competitive. Nanotechnology provided by lithium-ion research solves the issues poised by the need to store renewable energy. Lithium-ion batteries switch price reductions are poised to drive market adoption by making units affordable.”
Nanotechnology results obtained in the laboratory are being translated into commercial products. The processes of translating the nanotechnology science into thin film lithium ion batteries are anticipated to be ongoing. The breakthroughs of science in the laboratory have only begun to be translated into life outside the lab, with a long way to go in improving the functioning of the lithium-ion batteries. Unlike any other battery technology, thin film solid-state batteries show very high cycle life. Using very thin cathodes (0.05µm) batteries have been cycled in excess of 45,000 cycles with very limited loss in capacity. After 45,000 cycles, 95% of the original capacity remained.
Then there is the problem of translating the evolving technology into manufacturing process. What this means is that the market will be very dynamic, with the market leaders continuously being challenged by innovators, large and small that develop more cost efficient units. Systems integration and manufacturing capabilities have developed a broad family of high-power lithium-ion batteries and battery systems. A family of battery products, combined with strategic partner relationships in the transportation, electric grid services and portable power markets, position vendors to address these markets for lithium-ion batteries.
Electric Vehicles depend on design, development, manufacture, and support of advanced, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Batteries provide a combination of power, safety and life. Next-generation energy storage solutions are evolving as commercially available batteries. Lithium-ion batteries will play an increasingly important role in facilitating a shift toward cleaner forms of energy.
Innovative approaches to materials science and battery engineering are available from a large number of very significant companies — GE, Panasonic Sanyo / Matsushita Industrial Co., Ltd., NEC, Saft, Toshiba, BYD / Berkshire Hathaway, LG Chem, Altair Nanotechnologies, Samsung, Sony, A123 Systems with MIT technology, and Altair Nanotechnologies.
Markets for lithium-ion batteries at $911 million in 2008 are anticipated to reach $9.1 billion by 2015, growing in response to decreases in unit costs and increases. Lithiumion batteries used in cell phones and PCs, and in cordless power tools are proving the technology. Units are shipped into military markets and are used in satellites, proving the feasibility of systems. Small, lithium-ion prismatic batteries prove the feasibility of this technology. The large emerging markets are for hybrid and electric vehicles powered by renewable energy systems.
Report Methodology
This is the 399th report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, and telephone equipment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases. Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.
Table of Contents :
Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Executive Summary ES-1
Worldwide Nanotechnology Thin Film Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Driving Forces ES-1
Market Driving Forces ES-2
Nanotechnology Forms the Base for Lithium-Ion Batteries ES-7
Competitors ES-7
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Shares ES-7
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Forecasts ES-9
1. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery
Market Description and Market Dynamics 1-1
1.1 Lithium-Ion Battery Target Markets 1-1
1.1.1 Project Better Place and the Renault-Nissan Alliance 1-2
1.1.2 Largest Target Market, The Transportation Industry 1-3
1.1.3 Electric Grid Services Market 1-4
1.1.4 Portable Power Market, Power Tools 1-5
1.2 Lithium-Ion Battery Technologies Transportation
Industry Target Market 1-7
1.3 Energy Storage For Grid Stabilization 1-11
1.3.1 Local Energy Storage Benefit For Utilities 1-12
1.4 Applications Require On-Printed Circuit
Board Battery Power 1-13
1.4.1 Thin-film vs. Printed Batteries 1-13
1.5 Smart Buildings 1-14
1.5.1 Permanent Power for Wireless Sensors 1-16
1.6 Battery Safety / Potential Hazards 1-17
1.7 Thin Film Solid-State Battery Construction 1-18
1.8 Battery Is Electrochemical Device 1-20
1.9 Battery Depends On Chemical Energy 1-21
1.9.1 Characteristics Of Battery Cells 1-21
1.9.2 Batteries Are Designed Differently For Various Applications 1-23
2. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market
Shares and Market Forecasts 2-1
2.1 Worldwide Nanotechnology Thin Film Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Driving Forces 2-1
2.1.1 Market Driving Forces 2-2
2.1.2 Nanotechnology Forms the Base for Lithium-Ion Batteries 2-7
2.1.3 Competitors 2-7
2.2 Lithium-Ion Battery Market Shares 2-7
2.2.1 ExxonMobil Affiliate in Japan / Tonen Chemical 2-10
2.3 Lithium-Ion Battery Market Forecasts 2-11
2.4 Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Vehicle Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Shares 2-14
2.4.1 BYD 2-16
2.4.2 Johnson Controls-Saft 2-16
2.4.3 Saft Battery Technologies 2-17
2.4.4 A123Systems 32 Series Automotive Class
Lithium Ion™ Cells: 2-17
2.4.5 NEC and Nissen 2-19
2.4.6 LG Chem 2-20
2.4.7 EnerDel 2-20
2.4.8 Competition 2-20
2.5 Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Lithium-Ion
Battery Market Forecasts 2-21
2.5.1 Largest Target Market, The Transportation Industry 2-25
Thin Film Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery EV Market 2-27
Thin Film Lithium-Ion And Lithium Polymer Automotive Batteries 2-27
2.6 Thin-Film and Printed Batteries: On-Board
Solutions for Low-Power Electronics 2-29
2.6.1 Solicore Tiny Flat Battery 2-31
2.6.2 Thin-Film, Organic, and Printed Batteries:
On-Board Solutions for Low-Power Electronics 2-32
2.7 Cell Phone, Communications, And PC Lithium-Ion
Battery Technology Markets Discussion 2-33
2.7.1 Samsung SDI 2-33
2.7.2 BYD 2-33
2.7.3 Saft 2-33
2.7.4 Portable Power Competition 2-34
2.8 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Portable Power
Market, Power Tools Market Shares 2-34
2.8.1 A123 Systems 2-36
2.9 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Portable Power,
Power Tools Market Forecasts 2-37
2.10 Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Electric
Grid Services Markets 2-40
2.10.1 Electric Grid Services 2-42
2.11 Thin Film Lithium-Ion Battery Market Positioning 2-43
2.11.1 US And Its Allies Are Changing The Military Landscape 2-48
2.12 Digital Device Battery Forecasts 2-51
3. Thin Film Lithium-Ion Battery Product Description 3-1
3.1 A123 Systems 3-1
3.1.1 A123 Systems Lithium Ion Cell Construction
Based On A Dual Plate Tubular Design 3-4
3.1.2 A123Systems 32 Series Automotive Class
Lithium Ion™ Cells: 3-5
3.1.3 GM and A123Systems Co-Develop
Lithium-Ion Battery Cell for Chevrolet Volt 3-11
3.1.4 A123Systems / GE Production Contract for
Norewegian Think Electric Vehicles 3-12
3.1.5 A123Systems Patent for Nanophosphate™
Lithium Ion Battery Technology 3-14
3.2 LG Chem 3-15
3.2.1 LG Lithium-Ion Cylindrical Battery 3-15
3.2.2 LG Lithium-ion Polymer Battery 3-15
3.2.3 LG Lithium-ion Battery Prismatic Type 3-17
3.2.4 LG Chem 3-17
3.3 SAFT 3-18
3.3.1 Saft Lithium-ion (Li-ion) Batteries 3-18
3.3.2 Saft is Li-ion Batteries For Commercial
GEO Satellites to JSC ISS of Russia 3-19
3.3.3 Saft Contract To Power Hybrid Electric Mobile
Utility Systems From Titan Energy Development 3-21
3.3.4 Saft and ABB Develop New High Voltage Li-ion
Battery System 3-22
3.3.5 Saft Hybrid Battery Technology for Wisconsin Clean Energy 3-24
3.3.6 Saft High-Energy Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries For Raytheon 3-25
3.3.7 Saft Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Battery Backup Systems 3-25
3.3.8 Saft Energy Storage As A Key
Renewable Energy Enabling Technology 3-26
3.3.9 Saft / Solion Large Li-ion batteries 3-27
3.3.10 Saft Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-So2) Batteries 3-31
3.3.11 Saft Lithium Technologies 3-32
3.3.12 Saft Lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) 3-32
3.3.13 Lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) – LS/LST/LSG cell ranges 3-35
3.3.14 Saft Small LS/LST bobbin cells 3-36
3.3.15 Saft Large LS/T bobbin cells 3-38
3.3.16 Saft Lithium-Manganese Dioxide (Li-MnO2) 3-43
3.3.17 Saft Lithium-ion (Li-ion) 3-43
3.4 BYD 3-50
3.4.1 Warren Buffett Buys 10 Percent Stake In BYD
Chinese Battery Manufacturer 3-50
3.4.2 BYD Battery Expertise 3-52
3.5 Panasonic / Sanyo 3-53
3.6 Samsung 3-54
3.7 Ener1 / EnerDel 3-55
3.7.1 EnerDel Lithium-Ion Prismatic Design 3-56
3.7.2 EnerDel Addressing Market Demand for
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) 3-56
3.7.3 EnerDel 5Amp Battery Pack 3-60
3.8 Imara 3-60
3.9 ExxonMobil Affiliate in Japan / Tonen Chemical 3-62
3.9.1 Tonen Chemical Leading Supplier Of Separators
For Lithium Ion Batteries 3-63
3.10 NEC 3-63
3.10.1 Nissan and NEC Group 3-64
3.10.2 Nissan And NEC Joint Venture 3-65
3.10.3 NEC High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Employ A Compact Laminated Configuration 3-66
3.10.4 NEC / Nissan Low-Cost Lithium-Manganese Batteries 3-67
3.10.5 NEC Lamilion Energy 3-68
3.10.6 NEC Subaru 3-68
3.10.7 NEC Thin Film Battery Has Sixteen Modules
Consisting Of Twelve Cells, Serially Connected 3-69
3.10.8 NEC / Subaru Thin Film Battery Flat Shape 3-69
3.11 Sony 3-71
3.12 Matshushita Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) 3-73
3.12.1 Panasonic Lithium Batteries 3-74
3.12.2 Panasonic Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries 3-75
3.13 E-One Moli Energy 3-79
3.13.1 Product Data Sheets 3-81
3.14 QuantumSphere 3-82
3.15 Solicore Ultra Thin-Film Battery 3-84
3.15.1 Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Batteries 3-86
3.15.2 Solicore Flexion Lithium Powered Cards 3-87
3.15.3 Solicore RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Devices 3-89
3.15.4 Solicore’s Flexion® Batteries Bluechip Million Unit Purchase 3-90
3.15.5 Solicore Supports Smart Cards 3-91
3.16 Cymbet EnerChip™ Solid-State, Rechargeable
Thin-Film Batteries 3-92
3.16.1 Cymbet Enerchip™ Sensors Support 3-94
3.17 Front Edge Technology 3-95
3.18 Excellatron Thin-Film Micro-Batteries 3-95
3.18.1 Contrast To Conventional Lithium Cells 3-95
3.18.2 Excellatron Market Advantage 3-97
3.18.3 Excellatron Battery Current State of the Art 3-99
3.18.4 Excellatron Battery Intrinsically Safe 3-101
3.18.5 High Temperature Performance of
Excellatron Thin Film Batteries 3-101
3.18.6 Excellatron Long Cycle Life 3-109
3.18.7 Excellatron Polymer Film Substrate for Thin Flexible Profile 3-111
3.18.8 Excellatron Unique Proprietary Passivation
Barrier and Packaging Solution 3-113
3.19 Front Edge 50,000 Prototypes Of Nanoenergy Batteries 3-117
3.19.1 Front Edge Technology (FET) 3-117
3.20 Infinite Power Solutions (IPS) Flexible Thin-Film Batteries 3-127
3.20.1 Infinite Power Solutions 3-129
3.21 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy 3-130
3.21.1 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy Thin Film Batteries 3-132
3.22 Energizer 3-132
3.22.1 Energizer Holdings 3-133
3.23 Valence 3-134
3.23.1 PVI for Valence’s U-Charge(R) XP Energy Storage Systems 3-134
3.23.2 Valence Lithium Phosphate 3-135
3.23.3 Valence Lithium Phosphate Stability and Dependability 3-137
3.23.4 Valence Safety Focus 3-137
3.23.5 Valence Lithium Phosphate Alternative to Lead-Acid 3-138
3.23.6 Valence Lithium Phosphate Storage and Run-Time 3-138
3.23.7 Valence Lithium Phosphate Safety and Maintenance Free 3-138
3.24 ITN Energy Systems 3-139
3.24.1 ITN Intelligent Processing, Sensors, & Controls: 3-142
3.24.2 ITN Control: 3-144
3.24.3 ITN Sensors 3-147
3.24.4 ITN Unique Sensors: X-Ray Fluorescence And
Parallel Detection Spectroscopic Ellipsometer 3-148
3.25 ULVAC 3-159
3.26 Intersil 3-159
4. Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Technology 4-1
4.1 Vendor Lithium-ion Battery Strategy 4-1
4.1.1 Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Characteristics 4-2
4.2 Challenges in Battery Design 4-3
4.2.1 Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries Requirements 4-7
4.3 Vendor Lithium-Ion Battery Positioning 4-8
4.3.1 High-Quality, Volume Manufacturing Facilities 4-10
4.4 Applications Of Lithium-Ion Batteries 4-11
4.5 Mobile Phone Industry 4-12
4.5.1 Nanowires 4-13
4.5.2 Thin Film Battery Enabling Chemistries 4-13
4.5.3 The Cathodes 4-14
4.5.4 Solid State Devices Provide More Energy Density 4-14
4.6 Advantages of Lithium-Ion Batteries 4-15
4.6.1 Lithium-Ion Battery Shortcomings 4-18
4.6.2 Charging 4-19
4.6.3 Applications 4-19
4.6.4 Costs 4-20
4.7 Lithium Cell Chemistry Variants 4-20
4.7.1 Lithium-ion 4-21
4.7.2 Lithium-ion Polymer 4-22
4.7.3 Other Lithium Cathode Chemistry Variants 4-23
4.7.4 Lithium Cobalt LiCoO2 4-23
4.7.5 Lithium Manganese LiMn2O4 4-23
4.7.6 Lithium Nickel LiNiO2 4-24
4.7.7 Lithium (NCM) Nickel Cobal Manganese – Li(NiCoMn)O2 4-24
4.7.8 Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO4 4-24
4.8 Operating Performance Of The Cell Can Be Tuned 4-25
4.9 Lithium Metal Polymer 4-26
4.9.1 Lithium Sulphur Li2S8 4-26
4.9.2 Alternative Anode Chemistry 4-26
4.10 ExxonMobil affiliate, Tonen Chemical
Polyethylene-Based, Porous Film 4-27
4.11 Cymbet Alternate Manufacturing 4-27
4.12 Thin-Film Batteries Packaging 4-27
4.13 ITN Energy Systems Fibrous Substrates, PowerFiber 4-28
4.13.1 ITN Sensors 4-31
4.14 Cell Construction 4-32
4.15 Impact Of Nanotechnology 4-33
4.16 Thin Film Batteries 4-34
4.16.1 Thin Film Battery Timescales and Costs 4-37
4.16.2 High Power And Energy Density 4-37
4.16.3 High Rate Capability 4-38
4.17 Comparison Of Rechargeable Battery Performance 4-39
4.18 Polymer Film Substrate 4-45
4.19 Micro Battery Solid Electrolyte 4-46
5.1 Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Lithium-Ion Company Profiles 5-1
5.1 Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Lithium-Ion 5-1
5.2 A123 Systems 5-1
5.2.1 A123 Systems Revenue 5-1
5.2.2 A123Systems Registration Statement for Initial Public Offering 5-2
5.2.3 A123 Systems Batteries Benefits 5-2
5.2.4 A123 Systems Competitive Advantage 5-4
5.2.5 A123 Systems Strategy 5-7
5.2.6 A123Systems and GE 5-8
5.2.7 A123 Acquisition of Hymotion 5-9
5.2.8 Procter & Gamble Duracell and A123 Systems Collaborate 5-10
5.2.9 Cobasys and A123 Systems 5-10
5.3 Advanced Cerametrics 5-11
5.4 Altair Nanotechnologies 5-12
5.4.1 Altair Nanotechnologies Power and Energy Group 5-12
5.4.2 Altair Nanotechnologies Performance Materials Division 5-12
5.4.3 Altair Nanotechnologies Life Sciences Division 5-14
5.4.4 Altair Nanotechnologies One-Megawatt Battery
System Available for Commercial Operation by AES
Energy Storage, LLC 5-14
5.4.5 Altair Nanotechnologies Revenues 5-15
5.5 Applied Data 5-16
5.6 Bekaert 5-16
5.7 Robert Bosch GmbH 5-17
5.8 Boston Power / Sonata 5-17
5.9 BYD 5-21
5.9.1 Warren Buffett Buys 10 Percent Stake In BYD
Chinese Battery Manufacturer 5-21
5.10 Cymbet 5-23
5.10.1 Cymbet Thin-Film, Solid-State Battery Technology 5-23
5.10.2 Cymbet and ANT Wireless Sensor Network 5-23
5.10.3 Garmin International ANT™ Wireless Network 5-25
5.11 Dow 5-25
5.12 E-One Moli Energy Group 5-26
5.13 Ener1 5-27
5.13.1 Ener1 Third Quarter 2008 Revenue 5-27
5.13.2 Ener1 Positioning Technology Originally
Pioneered By Argonne National Lab 5-30
5.13.3 Ener1 Acquires Enertech Leading Korean
Lithium-ion Battery Cell Producer 5-31
5.13.4 Ener1 / Enertech Specializes In Producing
Large Format Flat (“Prismatic”) Cells 5-32
5.13.5 EnerDel Operations 5-34
5.14 Energizer 5-39
5.15 Excellatron 5-44
5.16 Exon 5-45
5.16.1 ExxonMobil Chemical / Tonen Chemical Corporation 5-46
5.17 Front Edge Technology (FET) 5-47
5.18 GE 5-47
5.18.1 GE Global Research 5-48
5.18.2 GE Energy Financial Services 5-48
5.19 GM 5-48
5.19.1 General Motors Faces Bankruptcy 5-50
5.20 Ignite 5-51
5.21 IPS 5-51
5.22 Johnson Controls-Saft 5-52
5.23 KSW Microtec 5-52
5.24 LG Petrochemical 5-53
5.24.1 LG Chem 5-54
5.25 MMT Funds 5-54
5.26 NEC 5-54
5.26.1 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., NEC, And Subsidiary
NEC TOKIN Joint-Venture Company – Automotive
Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) – 5-55
5.26.2 First Commercial Application For AESC’s Li-Ion Batteries 5-57
5.26.3 NEC TOKIN Lithium-Manganese Electrodes by 2009 5-59
5.26.4 Nissan Partnership With NEC 5-59
5.26.5 NEC Lamilion Energy 5-60
5.27 Oak Ridge Micro-Energy 5-60
5.28 Panasonic / Sanyo 5-61
5.29 QuantumSphere 5-63
5.30 Saft 5-64
5.30.1 Saft Battery Technologies 5-66
5.30.2 Saft Industrial Battery Group (IBG) 5-68
5.30.3 Saft Specialty Battery Group (SBG) 5-69
5.30.4 Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems (RBS) 5-71
5.30.5 Saft Research and Development 5-71
5.30.6 Johnson Controls-Saft United States Advanced
Battery Consortium (USABC) 5-72
5.31 Samsung 5-73
5.32 Solicore 5-73
5.32.1 Solicore’s Flexion® Batteries Bluechip Million Unit Purchase 5-74
5.32.2 Solicore Embedded Power Solutions 5-75
5.33 Think 5-75
5.34 Valence 5-76
5.34.1 Valence Strategy 5-77
5.34.2 Phases Of Valence Business Strategy 5-78
5.35 Ulvac 5-80
Tables and Figures
Table ES-1 ES-4
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Driving Forces
Table ES-2 ES-6
Energy Advantages Of Thin-Film Batteries
Figure ES-3 ES-8
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure ES-4 ES-10
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Table 1-1 1-3
Principal Features Used To Compare Rechargeable Batteries
Figure 1-2 1-8
BMW’s Mini E Electric Car Powered By A Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
Table 1-3 1-9
Examples of Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Figure 1-4 1-19
Typical Structure Of A Thin Film Solid State Battery
Table 1-5 1-22
Characteristics Of Battery Cells
Table 2-1 2-4
Lithium-Ion Battery Market Driving Forces
Table 2-2 2-6
Energy Advantages Of Thin-Film Batteries
Figure 2-3 2-8
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Table 2-4 2-9
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-5 2-12
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-6 2-13
Worldwide Lithium-Ion and Advanced Lithium-ion
Battery Market Forecasts, Automotive, Power Tools,
Electric Grid, and PC Card, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-7 2-14
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Automotive Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-8 2-15
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Automotive Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-9 2-21
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-10 2-22
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Units, 2009-2015
Figure 2-11 2-23
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Advanced Battery
Shipments, Market Shares, Units and Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-12 2-30
Worldwide PC Card On Board Lithium-Ion Batteries
Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-13 2-35
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Cordless Tool Advanced Battery Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Table 2-14 2-36
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Thin Film Cordless Tool Advanced Battery Shipments, Market Shares, Dollars, 2008
Figure 2-15 2-38
Worldwide Lithium-Ion Battery Portable Power
Tool and Advanced Portable Battery Shipments,
Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Figure 2-16 2-41
Worldwide Electric Grid Lithium-Ion Battery
Storage Market Forecasts, Dollars, 2009-2015
Table 2-17 2-45
Commercialization Challenges Of The Automotive,
Truck, and Bus Thin Film Battery Industry
Table 2-18 2-47
Integrated Thin Film Battery Personal Transport
Power Systems
Table 2-19 2-49
Requirements For Advanced Power Sources In A
Variety Of Military Applications
Table 2-20 2-50
Large-Format Lithium-Ion Battery Key Advantages
Table 2-20 (Continued) 2-51
Large-Format Lithium-Ion Battery Key Advantages
Figure 3-1 3-2
A123 Systems Lithium Ion Battery
Table 3-2 3-3
A123 Systems APR18650M1 Features
Figure 3-3 3-4
A123 Systems lithium ion battery Cells: 26650
Figure 3-4 3-5
A123 Cells: 32 Series
Figure 3-5 3-7
A123 Systems Hybrid Characteristics
Figure 3-6 3-8
A123 Systems Hybrid Discharge Characteristics
Table 3-7 3-9
A123 Systems Benefits…
Table 3-8 3-10
A123 Systems Heavy Duty Custom and Standard Solutions
Figure 3-9 3-16
LG Chem Lithium-Ion Batteries
Table 3-10 3-32
Saft Lithium Technologies
Table 3-11 3-33
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Main applications
Table 3-11 (Continued) 3-34
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Main applications
Figure 3-12 3-35
Saft Non Rechargeable Battery
Table 3-13 3-39
Saft Lithium-Ion Construction Features
Table 3-14 3-40
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Benefits
Figure 3-15 3-42
Saft Lithium-Sulfur Dioxide (Li-SO2) Batteries
Table 3-16 3-44
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-45
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-46
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-47
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-48
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Table 3-16 (Continued) 3-49
Saft Lithium-Ion Battery Variations
Figure 3-17 3-57
EnerDel Automotive Battery
Table 3-18 3-58
EnerDel Lithium Ion Battery System for HEVs
Table 3-19 3-59
EnerDel Automotive Battery Features
Table 3-20 3-60
Imara Thin Film Battery Cells
Figure 3-21 3-65
NEC Fuel Cells and Catalysts
Table 3-22 3-72
Key Features of Sony NP-FP71 Hybrid Lithium Ion
Rechargeable Battery
Table 3-22 (Continued) 3-73
Key Features of Sony NP-FP71 Hybrid Lithium Ion
Rechargeable Battery
Figure 3-23 3-74
Panasonic Lithium Batteries
Figure 3-24 3-75
Panasonic Lithium-Ion Rechargable Batteries
Table 3-25 3-76
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries Features:
Table 3-26 3-76
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries
Table 3-27 3-77
Panasonic Rechargeable Lithium ion Batteries
Table 3-28 3-85
Solicore Flexion Battery Product Features:
Table 3-29 3-86
Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Battery Applications
Table 3-30 3-87
Solicore’s Flexion Lithium Polymer Battery Uses
Figure 3-31 3-88
Solicore Flexion High Temperature Batteries Survive Lamination
Table 3-31A 3-89
Solicore RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Applications
Table 3-32 3-96
Excellatron Nanotechnology Thin Film Battery Features
Table 3-33 3-97
Excellatron Battery Advantages
Table 3-34 3-99
Excellatron Battery Thin Film Solid State Battery Components
Figure 3-35 3-102
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Charge/Discharge Profile at 25ºC.
Figure 3-36 3-103
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Charge/Discharge
Profile At 150ºC.
Figure 3-37 3-104
Excellatron High Temperature (150ºC) Charge And
Discharge Capacity
Figure 3-38 3-106
Excellatron Capacity And Resistance Of Thin Film Battery
As A Function Of Temperature
Figure 3-39 3-106
Excellatron’s Battery (0.1 mAh) Discharged By A 100 mA
Pulse at 80ºC.
Figure 3-40 3-108
Excellatron High Rate Pulse Discharge
Figure 3-41 3-109
Long Term Cyclability Of A Thin Film Solid State Battery
Figure 3-42: 3-110
Excellatron Thin Film Battery Long Term Cyclability
Figure 3-43 3-111
Discharge Capacity Of Several Typical Cathode Materials
Figure 3-44: 3-112
Excellatron Thin film batteries deposited on a thin polymer substrate.
Figure 3-45 3-114
Excellatron Proprietary Passivation Barrier and Packaging
Table 3-46 3-115
Comparison Of Battery Performances
Figure 3-47 3-131
Oak Ridge Construction of a Thin Film Battery
Table 3-48 3-136
Key Features of Valence Lithium Phosphate Technology
Table 3-49 3-139
ITN Commercial Markets:
Figure 3-50 3-140
ITN Thin Film Battery:
Table 3-51 3-141
ITN Thin Film Battery Design Features/Advantages
Table 3-52 3-142
ITN Thin Film Battery Economical production
Table 3-53 3-143
ITN Thin Film Battery Strengths
Figure 3-54 3-145
ITN Intelligent Process Control
Figure 3-55 3-146
Framework of Intelligent Processing of Materials
Figure 3-56 3-149
XRF Instrument Developed by ITN Used on a System
Figure 3-57 3-150
Thin Film Deposition
Figure 3- 58 3-150
ITP Thin-film Process
Table 3-59 3-151
Thin-film Process Capabilities
Table 3-60 3-152
ITNThin-film Material Processing Experience Metals
Table 4-1 4-4
Challenges in Lithium-ion Battery Design
Table 4-2 4-35
Thin Film Battery Unique Properties
Table 4-3 4-38
Comparison of battery performances
Table 4-4 4-40
Comparison of battery performances
Table 4-5 4-42
Thin Films For Advanced Batteries
Table 4-6 4-43
Thin Film Batteries Technology
Table 4-7 4-44
Thin Film Battery / Lithium Air Batteries Applications
Figure 4-8 4-45
Polymer Film Substrate Thin Flexible battery Profiles
Figure 4-9 4-46
Design Alternatives of Thin Film Rechargable Batteries
Table 5-1 5-3
A123 Systems Batteries Benefits
Table 5-2 5-5
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Table 5-2 (Continued) 5-6
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Table 5-2 (Continued) 5-7
A123 Systems Competitive Positioning
Figure 5-3 5-19
Boston-Power Charge Curve
Figure 5-4 5-20
Boston-Power Discharge Curve
Figure 5-5 5-35
EnerDel Operations
Figure 5-6 5-36
EnerDel Lithium Power Systems
Figure 5-7 5-37
EnerDel Lithium Power USABC Contracts
Figure 5-8 5-38
EnerDel Lithium Power Think Projct
Figure 5-9 5-63
Sanyo Battery Targets 2020
Figure 5-10 5-65
Saft Sales Segments Half 1, 2008
Figure 5-11 5-67
Saft Revenue H1 2008
Figure 5-12 5-81
Ulvac Vacuum Pumps, Gauges, and Valves
For More information please contact
Nanotechnology Boosts Efficiency Of Lithium Ion Batteries
April 9, 2010 by AboutNanoWires.com · Leave a Comment
Nano World News: What are main advantages that battery manufacturers can expect from nanotechnology in the production of lithium ion batteries?
John Hill: Manufacturers are constantly striving for better batteries that offer improved conductivity, longer charge life and shorter recharge time. These elements are all critical to the evolution of li-ion batteries. Nanotechnology has shown to improve upon these features, enabling battery manufacturers to offer a better battery to OEMs producing a wide range of products, particularly consumer electronics. These advances are moving towards the possibility of widespread adoption of li-ions in electric vehicles.
NWN: For our readers who may not be entirely familiar with the science behind how lithium ion batteries work, can you walk us through the process?
JH: Within batteries, there are materials that operate as anodes and cathodes. During the charging process, the lithium ions move from the cathode into the anode. When a battery is discharging, that movement is reversed. Electrolytes conduct the lithium ions and serve as a carrier between the anode and the cathode when electric currents pass through an external circuit.
The materials selected as anodes and cathodes will affect a battery’s voltage, capacity and battery life. So will their quality — which is where nanotechnology comes into play.
NWN: What types of materials are typically used?
JH: Variations of carbon, typically graphite, primarily serve as anodes in today’s li-ion batteries.
NWN: And as cathodes?
JH: Manganese, cobalt and iron phosphate are common cathodes being used today. While lithium cobalt oxide and lithium manganese oxide batteries are commonly being used in consumer electronic products, the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery continues to gain popularity because of its improved safety and environmental advantages compared to the alternatives. Another major advantage is the longer cycle calendar life provided by LFP.
Iron and phosphate are also less expensive than other materials used in lithium ion battery production, and their high charge capacity makes them a good match for plug-in hybrid applications.
LFP battery cells do contain lower voltage and energy density levels than other li-ion batteries, but their slower rate of capacity loss helps LFP batteries maintain a higher energy density level than other li-ion batteries after a single year of use.
NWN: Where does nanotechnology fit into the production of li-ion batteries?
JH: Today’s nanotechnology manufacturing processes allow li-ion battery manufacturers to work with grinding media as small as 90 microns. (As a point of reference, a typical human hair is 10 microns wide.) This increased surface area of grinding particles not only leads to faster production time but to a more homogenous, consistent coating for use in the batteries.
Applying nanotechnology principles to the coating development process for both anodes and cathodes has proven to produce a better performing battery. At the most basic level, lithium ions penetrate the graphite anode faster and more easily when it’s homogenous and consistent. Nothing achieves this better today than using nanotechnology.
NWN: What is the best way that manufacturers can introduce nanotechnology?
JH: Media milling – or grinding – is the most well-established manufacturing method for nanoparticle production. Stirred media mills are used in many different industries to reduce particle size. By preparing coatings using proper grinding techniques, lithium ion battery manufacturers are joining the ranks of those who are able to develop higher-quality products because of the equipment.
NWN: What are some key considerations during the coating development process?
JH: Consistent dispersions play an especially important role in the anode and cathode coatings. The particles must remain smooth and free from agglomerates or clustering. Micronized air bubbles within the mixture can also impact conductivity of coatings and, ultimately, a li-ion battery’s overall performance.
Before and during the grinding process, lithium and graphite particles require careful attention to ensure that no contamination occurs to the coating mixtures. Metal grinding equipment can slough off metal particles leading to accidental contamination, affecting the final quality of the coatings. Today’s ceramic and polyurethane mixing and grinding tools can prevent this contamination and ensure that the performance of the coatings isn’t compromised.
NWN: How promising is the future for lithium ion batteries?
JH: Very promising. Right now, more resources than ever before are being funneled into the industry, and with the help of nanotechnology, the possibilities are endless. It’s hard to predict exactly what is ahead, but we’ve come a long way since Sony released the first commercial lithium ion battery in 1991.
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Charging Ahead With Nanotechnology
April 9, 2010 by AboutNanoWires.com · Leave a Comment
With all of the technology that is being continuously introduced and used, it would only seem logical in our quest for a green world to apply some of the renewable energy efforts to this spectrum. That is exactly what some scientists are looking into with their research on how nanotechnology can be used with lithium batteries.
According to Science News, a report that will be published in International Journal of Nanomanufacturing asserts that “carbon nanotubes can prevent such batteries from losing their charge capacity over time.” The batteries they are speaking of are the lithium-based batteries that are found in commonly used devices such as MP3 players, laptop computers, and cell phones.
As any of us who partake of these various technologies are quite aware of, with continued use, the battery power just seems to lose its life. As the news story reports, elements such as hot and cold temperatures help this reduction process along even more. Scientists have been researching this degradation process for awhile, and have looked into silicon to replace the universally used lithium-ion batteries. However, due to the fast rate that silicon also degrades, they have had to search even further.
This is where nanotechnology comes into play. As Science News states, “Shengyang’s Hui-Ming Cheng and colleagues have turned to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to help them use silicon (Si) as the battery anode but avoid the problem of large volume change during alloying and de-alloying.” By introducing the carbon nanotubes to the silicon, they seem to be solving some of the problems that previously existed.
The whole process is quite amazing. “The researchers grew carbon nanotubes on the surface of tiny particles of silicon using a technique known as chemical vapor deposition in which a carbon-containing vapor decomposes and then condenses on the surface of the silicon particles forming the nanoscopic tubes. They then coated these particles with carbon released from sugar at a high temperature in a vacuum. A separate batch of silicon particles produced using sugar but without the CNTs was also prepared.”
The scientists used these two diverse batches and compared them. What they found was remarkable – the batch using the carbon produced a discharge capacity twice that of the one which only contained the silicon particles.
There seems to be many reasons that have prompted research into better material used to create batteries. Reports of fires found to be ignited by lithium-ion batteries, although rare, seem to have caused much attention to be placed on safer materials. The general complaint many have regarding the increased reduction of device batteries after continued use is likely another reason that prompted the research. Whatever the likely combination was, this new research could be monumental in how users of technological devices power up their gadgets.
Nanotechnology is not the only material researchers are using in their quest for a better battery, but it does seem to be one of the options that show much promise.
David Tanguay is dedicated to providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. For more information related to Green Energy and Renewable Energy please visit http://greenenergyonline.org
