Abstract/Technology Overview

Lithium-ion batteries plays an important role in our daily life thanks to their excellent rechargeability and adequate power and energy densities. A key material that has enable this success is graphite, which serve as a lithium-ion host structure for the negative electrode (anode). Despite numerous research and development efforts to find suitable alternatives with enhanced power and energy density, while maintaining the cycling stability, graphite is still used in the vast majority of commercially available lithium-ion batteries as it is relatively low cost, and is generally compatible with various cathode chemistries.

Based in Italy, the technology owner has proposed a novel anode compound made of alloyed lithium-aluminium-zinc-titanium oxide (LAZTO) materials, with the aim to boost the power and energy density of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) batteries commonly found in fast charge stations or applications that require long cycle life. When paired with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) or lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes, the anode compound has the potential to deliver higher discharge rate capability and good cycling stability compared to conventional LTO chemistry.

The improved LTO chemistry is expected to achieve more than 20,000 cycles and is capable to recharge within 6-10 minutes, with a recharge efficiency of more than 98%. The anode material is in the form of micronized powder and may be applicable for use in cells with different cathodes such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) oxide or supercapacitors. The technology owner is seeking industry partners such as battery manufacturers to collaborate through various R&D projects, as well as business partnerships and co-investment to develop cells in different formats with locations in either Singapore or Turin, Italy.

Technology Features, Specifications and Advantages

• Insertion of aluminium (Al) and zinc (Zn) in the titanate structure creates an “alloy of different oxides” anode compound which delivers high-rate capability and good cycling stability. 
• Potentially, the anode compound could enable more than 20,000 charge/discharge cycles and is capable to recharge within 6-10 minutes, with a recharge efficiency of more than 98%. 
• Unlike the approach to incorporate silicon or silicon oxide into graphite composite electrodes, the anode compound does not swell or degrade by repeated charging and discharging operations.
• Preliminary data shows that the enhanced LTO chemistry can be safely charged at rates higher than 10C
• Operating temperature range from -30 to 55 °C

Potential Applications

• Lithium-ion batteries in automotive, motorbikes, industrial vehicles and aerospace.
• Lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) in energy storage devices.

Customer Benefit

• Long cycle life, high power and high energy density batteries
• Enables fast charging
• Stable anode material with reduced risk of fire and explosions