Tech Sheets SEVEN BERKELEY LAB ENERGY TECHS TO WATCH | Page 3
HIGH PERFORMANCE
SiO ELECTRODES
For Next Generation
Lithium Ion
Batteries
BERKELEY LAB EXPERTISE
NANOTECHNOLOGY
©Nanosys, Inc.
BIOENGINEERING
BATTERIES
PAIN POINT
Conventional graphite anode-based lithium ion batteries do not have the optimal specific capacity
to meet growing consumer demand for high-performance smartphones and other devices or electric
SEMICONDUCTORS
vehicles. Silicon monoxide (SiO) materials have promise because of their high specific capacity, low
volume expansion, and small initial specific surface area, but high loading SiO electrodes have been
hampered by excessive volume change of the micron-size particles and consumption of lithium
during the activation process.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Photo Courtesy of Nanosys, Inc.
SOLUTION
A low concentration of functional conductive polymer binder enhances the cycling stability of
SiO electrodes and eliminates the need for conductive additives, increasing the loading of active
HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
materials and, subsequently, increasing battery energy density. The Berkeley Lab SiO electrode
has capacity retention of over 90% after 500 cycles, translating into a 20% improvement over
conventional lithium ion batteries.
APPLICATIONS
BATTERIES
• Electric vehicles
• Portable electronics
ADVANTAGES
LIFE SCIENCES
• High energy density
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
Researcher publication in Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2015, 137 (7), 2656-2571.
STATUS
Patent pending. Available for licensing or collaborative research. For more details on this
technology, go to http://ipo.lbl.gov/lbnl2014-048/
REFERENCE NUMBER
2014-048
CONTACT
Shanshan Li, Technology Commercialization Associate
[email protected]
510-486-5366
L AWR E NC E BE R KELEY N ATI O N A L LA B O RATORY • [email protected]
All photos ©The Regents of the University of California through Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, except as noted.
• Fast throughput process
SENSORS/DETECTORS
BIO-BASED FUELS & CHEMICALS
IMAGING
SOFTWARE
SUBSURFACE