High-Throughput Manufacturing of Lithium Dendrite Suppression Membranes for High-Energy Density Anodeless Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the core technology in electric vehicles (EV). However, safety concerns and limited driving ranges (i.e. energy densities of <300 Wh/L) have hindered widespread EV implementation. Anodeless solid-state lithium metal batteries are a safe, high-energy (≥1000 Wh/L) alternative, but lithium dendrite penetration through the solid-state electrolyte (SSE) membrane continues to hamper their commercialization.

Moreover, the lack of scalable membrane processing methods continues to push anodeless battery commercialization further into the future. To address these challenges, Ampcera has developed a dendrite-suppressing SSE membrane using a high-throughput processing technology. The processing method enables a unique grain boundary structure that is advantageous for suppressing dendrite growth. The grain boundary-engineered membranes can be fabricated directly onto current collectors and incorporated into anodeless batteries.

Moreover, as-processed membranes can be directly integrated into battery production, eliminating the need for handling and any thermal treatment. In Phase I, grain boundary-engineered membranes (≤50 μm in thickness) are processed onto current collectors. As-processed membranes are integrated into pouch cells for electrochemical evaluation. A systematic materials evaluation demonstrates the lithium suppression capabilities of the membrane in pouch cells of ≥200 mAh in size.

Commercial Value: An IP-protected dendrite-suppressing solid electrolyte membrane structure.