APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

• Electric vehicles
• Energy storage

BENEFITS:

• Higher energy density and capacity than current cathode materials
• Improved cycling performance compared to current disordered rock salt cathode materials
• Scalable solid-state synthesis at lower temperatures retains fluorine content in the manganese (Mn)-based disordered rock salt cathodes

BACKGROUND:

The fluorination of cathodes has become a common tool to improve battery performance. Until recently, high-fluorine disordered rock salt (DRX) cathodes have been synthesised by high energy ball milling, while scalable solid-state synthesis methods lead to substantial fluorine loss. Additionally, achieving the high-purity precursors required for DRX formation has proven difficult, exacerbating cost and manufacturing challenges. Collectively, these issues impede the production of high-fluorine DRX cathodes at an industrial scale, slowing their adoption in next-generation battery technologies.

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW: 

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a method to synthesize DRX cathodes with a high fluorine content through a scalable lower temperature solid-state method. Beginning with a high-purity lithium manganese oxide (Li6MnO4) precursor and manganese fluoride (MnF2), DRX cathodes were synthesized at a temperature below the point that the fluorine source evaporates, which promotes fluorine incorporation. DRX cathodes generated with this method have been shown to have a higher energy density than conventional cathode materials and improved stability.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE: 

TRL 4 – Component and/or system validation in laboratory environments.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:

Haegyum Kim

IP Status: 

Patent pending

Additional information:

https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202500492

https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202403946

OPPORTUNITIES: 

Available for licensing or collaborative research