This presentation will examine our next-generation liquid electrolyte platform for Lithium metal battery chemistry applications.

This talk will cover the benefits and challenges of lithium metal for next-generation batteries using both silicon anodes and lithium metal anodes. In order to make a next-generation anode – you have to start with lithium metal production and this talk will cover the supply chain, geographies where lithium metal is produced, and why the current processes to make metal may not be preferred going forward. Further, this talk will cover the production of anodes and the benefits of transitioning from graphite-based to lithium-based anodes.

Cell dimensional changes need to be accounted for in system design. Conventional lithium-ion battery materials undergo small dimensional changes during cycling. However, more advanced technologies such as silicon and lithium anodes can exhibit much larger dimensional changes. This presentation describes the measurement of these effects for graphite, silicon, and varying types of lithium metal anodes.

PolyPlus Battery Company has developed ultra-high energy density lithium metal batteries and is now transitioning its technology into manufacturing. The introduction of protected lithium electrodes in which the negative electrode is isolated by a thin solid electrolyte membrane allows PolyPlus to primary and secondary batteries with exceptional performance including the lithium-seawater battery (LiSWB) which has demonstrated close to 1900 Wh/l and 2000 Wh/kg, and its rechargeable glass protected rechargeable lithium metal battery which should exceed 1200 Wh/l and 400 Wh/kg. The primary LiSWB uses a high conductivity ceramic solid electrolyte Li1+xAlxTi2–x(PO4)3 (LATP) which is uniquely stable to aqueous electrolyte (including salt water). The rechargeable Li metal battery utilizes several microns of lithium metal bonded to a continuous ribbon of ultra-thin conductive sulfide glass. PolyPlus makes its solid electrolyte glass by means of a state-of-the-art draw tower designed to heat the glass above its glass transition temperature and then process softened sulfide glass preforms from a starting thickness of several millimeters to less than 20 microns. PolyPlus is developing two technologies based on the use of thin sulfide glass; a hybrid approach which includes liquid electrolyte in the cathode, and a fully solid-state battery with no liquid electrolyte, both of which will be described in the presentation.

This presentation covers a series of methods and solutions applied to Lithium metal batteries to improve overall cycle life under typical application conditions. Sion Power will present results showcasing a comprehensive approach covering the improvements made by the introduction of mechanical, physical, chemical, and electrical solutions in the construction of energy storage systems and their benefits in the longevity of lithium metal cells.