Echion Technologies (Cambridge, UK) and iElectrolyte (Osaka, Japan) have demonstrated ultra-long cycle life Li-ion pouch cells. These cells combined Echion Technologies’ Mixed Niobium Oxide (XNO™) anode materials with iElectrolyte’s ionic liquid electrolytes which resulted in >98% capacity retention after 1000 cycles (1C/1C cycling). This is forecasted to provide at least >12,000 to standard cycle life limits of 80% of initial cell capacity. This paves the way to the sustainable electrification of high-performance applications.
The prototype cells comprised of a high-Ni NMC811 cathode, XNO™ anode and iElectrolyte’s ionic liquid electrolyte. Each component was optimized to achieve a cell with high performance and excellent safety. In particular, the XNO™ material enables the avoidance of any SEI formation and has high specific capacity, and the ionic liquid electrolyte eliminates the flammability and volatility hazards associated within traditional organic electrolytes. The prototype pouch cells were then manufactured and tested at iElectrolyte.
Both the NMC811 and XNO™ electrodes were fabricated using an eco-friendly aqueous process. Figure 1 shows >98 % capacity retention after 1000 charge-discharge cycles at 25°C from 0-100% State-of-Charge. High-temperature cycling at 60°C was also conducted, with capacity retention being >83 % after 1000 charge-discharge cycles
All cells tested showed negligible gassing. This highlights a significant improvement over other chemistries that are known to gas during cycle life, such as LTO. These results show the > 1V vs. Li/Li+ redox potential of the XNO™ anode greatly minimizes electrolyte decomposition. Combined with the ultra-stable crystal structure of the XNO™ material, long-term and stable battery performance is achieved.
Following the outstanding initial performance of this cathode/anode/electrolyte trial, iElectrolyte and Echion are expanding their commercial relationship, with Echion supplying materials for the manufacture and commercialization of 2 Ah pouch cells by iElectrolyte for high-performance applications.
About – Echion is a University of Cambridge spinout founded in 2017, to develop and commercialize advanced of anode materials for Li-ion batteries. We supply cell manufacturers globally with our Mixed Niobium Oxide materials (XNO™) platform, which enables cost-effective, fast-charging, high-energy density, and long-life power cells for a wide range of markets including automotive, industrial, and high-performance niche applications.
About – iElectrolyte was founded in 2014 from Kansai University in Japan, iElectrolyte develop ionic liquid-based lithium-ion battery for real applications. Their new water-based electrode technology realizes human and environmentally friendly production processes.
