Grants and Contributions:

Back to search
Title:
Development of solid-state electrolytes for thin-film lithium batteries
Agreement Number:
EGP
Agreement Value:
$25,000.00
Agreement Date:
Jul 12, 2017 -
Organization:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Location:
British Columbia, CA
Reference Number:
GC-2017-Q2-00114
Agreement Type:
Grant
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:
Liu, Jian (The University of British Columbia)
Program:
Engage Grants for Universities
Program Purpose:

The rising level of greenhouse gases caused by fossil fuels is known to be one of the foremost drivers ofx000D
climate change. In Canada, the transportation sector was the second largest source of greenhouse gases,x000D
accounting for 23% of total emissions in 2014. In this context, electric vehicles are gaining widespreadx000D
interests in order to realize clean transportation. Thin-film lithium battery built on solid-state electrolytes is thex000D
most promising technology to power electric vehicles, due to its high safety and energy density.x000D
To enable thin-film lithium batteries, it is the key to develop solid-state electrolytes with high lithium-ionx000D
conductivity. One critical challenge that Micromolding Solutions Inc. (a Quebec-based company) has is the lowx000D
lithium-ion conductivity of solid-state electrolytes prepared by a cold-pressing method, which leads to highx000D
interfacial resistance. In this project, Prof. Jian Liu at UBC Okanagan, in partnership with Micromoldingx000D
Solutions, proposes to use an innovative technique, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), to fabricate solid-statex000D
electrolytes. It is expected that SPS will significantly reduce the interfacial resistance and improve thex000D
conductivity of solid-state electrolytes.x000D
Success of this project will deliver marketable solid-state electrolyte products that will put Micromoldingx000D
Solutions in a leading position in key battery material supply. Moreover, the thin-film lithium battery researchx000D
will have great impacts on economic and environmental sectors of Canada. The global market for thin-filmx000D
batteries is anticipated to grow from USD 51.6 Million in 2014 to an estimated value of USD 1,104.3 Millionx000D
by 2020. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for Canadian battery industries (such as Nano One,x000D
Corvus), and create new economic venue in the next decade. At last but not least, thin-film battery technologyx000D
will increase the deployment of renewable energy and contribute to the development of sustainable society.