The new lithium economy

Argonne's world-class researchers are at the forefront of the global effort to develop better, safer lithium batteries, the most important advance in battery technology in recent years. Recharge able lithium batteries now power consumer electronics and devices for medicine, aerospace, defense and homeland security. This growing lithium economy benefits many sectors of the U.S. economy and makes rechargeable lithium-ion batteries strategically important to the nation's economic and national security.

At the forefront of this continually evolving lithium economy, Argonne's researchers are developing innovative and novel solutions to address the major challenges facing the further development and commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, such as safety, cost and calendar life.

“A major reason for Argonne's success in developing lithium-battery solutions, via the creation of novel materials, is that it may be the only research organization in the United States that covers the field from very basic research to very applied research,” said Gary Henriksen, manager of Argonne's Battery Technology Department.

The market for lithium-ion batteries has become substantial, not only for the cells and batteries, but also for the raw materials that go into the cell components. Argonne is internationally recognized for its outstanding expertise in developing new and innovative lithium battery materials for the future. The Argonne intellectual property portfolio for lithium-ion technology has more than 30 pending or issued patents, with additional inventions under consideration for patent applications.

Lithium-ion batteries offer several advantages over other types of secondary batteries, including lighter weight and higher energy density. These advantages make them ideal for use in portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, digital cameras and laptop computers. Due to their success in these applications, they are under development for other applications, such as electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and specialty battery applications.

The safety issues associated with lithium-ion batteries grow as the cell size increases beyond that currently used for consumer electronics, especially at the sizes needed for EVs and HEVs. In addition, HEV applications require lithium-ion batteries that cost less than $20/kW and last 15 years or longer.

Argonne researchers are contributing their expertise to enhance the inherent safety and extend the life of these batteries, while simultaneously reducing cost. Argonne is at the forefront of this technology, developing anodes made of new intermetallic alloys or lithium titanate, which are more stable than lithiated graphites and carbons in current batteries, and which operate at potentials that are further removed from that of lithium metal. Argonne researchers have also created cathodes from new structurally integrated manganese-rich composites that are more stable than current cobalt- and nickel-based cathodes, which are more highly oxidizing in the fully charged state. When mass produced, these new anode and cathode materials promise to reduce cost relative to materials in current use. Moreover, Argonne's new electrolyte additives enhance cell safety by forming more stable passivation films on electrode surfaces, or by introducing chemical oxidation/reduction shuttle reactions that initiate at an appropriate cell voltage to prevent cell overcharge.

These new materials are being developed on the basis of a thorough understanding, gained through exten sive diagnostic studies and electrochemical modeling, that identifies the role of each cell component in the life and safety limitations of lithium-ion cell chemistries.

The major sponsor of Argonne's battery research and development is the U.S. Department of Energy's Freedom CAR and Vehicle Technologies Program. Other gov ernment agencies and several private companies have also provided funding.

Argonne also collaborates with several industrial battery developers and material supply companies to develop better lithium-ion batteries. One of these companies, NanoeXa, a leading nanotechnology-based clean-energy company, and its subsidiary Decktron, a lithium-battery and flat-panel display company, have licensed Argonne intellectual property, and Argonne is working with them to transfer the underlying technology for commercial use.

“Argonne's R&D expertise in developing lithium-battery materials, as well as their deep relationships with the world's automotive makers, will create a powerful opportunity for our company,” said Michael Pak, CEO of NanoeXa.

Some analysts predict that by 2010 automakers will annually sell more than three million hybrid cars around the world, generating battery sales of more than $3 billion. Lithium batteries already represent a global market of $6 billion, growing at 10–15 percent per year.

By Donna Jones Pelkie.

For more information, please contact Dave Baurac (630/252-5584 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.