Imec and Panasonic introduce innovative nanocomposite electrolyte for next-generation batteries

TOKYO and LEUVEN, Belgium — November 13, 2017 — Today, at the Imec Technology Forum Japan, imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics energy and digital technology and partner in EnergyVille, and Panasonic, announced that they have developed an innovative solid nanocomposite electrolyte for next-generation batteries with a lithium ion conductivity several times greater than its liquid equivalent. The ion conductivity already reaches several mS/cm at room temperature. Imec and Panasonic have set a goal to develop novel solid nanocomposite electrolyte materials towards 100mS/cm in the next few years, which would make them suitable for fast-charging high-energy cells for use in vehicles and electronics.

Li-ion batteries are the predominant type of storage in the portable electronics and electrical vehicle markets. They are also poised to take an important role in the future energy grid, where they have the capacity to store energy from sustainable energy sources. However, Li-ion batteries still require considerable innovation in order to achieve ultra-fast-charging high-energy cells.

To accelerate this evolution, imec has set up a partner program concentrating on solid-state batteries.

“One of the unique benefits of imec is that we can leverage our state-of-the-art semiconductor knowledge to solve challenges in other research domains such as smart energy,” stated Philippe Vereecken, principal member of technical staff and program manager at imec. “This is what we have done to develop a novel solid nanocomposite electrolyte (SCE) which is deposited from solution. The wet chemical preparation route allows the solid-state electrolyte to be casted into powder electrodes, where it solidifies while remaining mechanically pliable. This paves the way to batteries in flexible form factors.”

Imec’s and Panasonic’s SCE is a mesoporous silica monolith functionalized with specific surface chemistry and ionic salts. It has achieved Li-ion conductivities of 3 to 10 mS/cm at room temperature which is exceptionally high for solid electrolytes that are applied via wet chemical coating. Moreover, using our new electrolyte technology, we have demonstrated rechargeable solid-state Li-ion batteries with lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) as negative electrode and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as positive electrode.”

These results will also be presented at this week’s 58th Battery Conference in Fukuoka (Japan) (November 14-16), in the international session [3H16] on Thu. Nov 16, 2017 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM “Mechanism analysis of Li-ion conductivity enhancement in porous silica-based solid nanocomposite electrolytes and session Li-ion battery” as well as in the Li-ion battery session [2E07] on Wed. Nov 15, 2017 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM “メソポーラスシリカからなるナノコンポジット固体電解質のリチウムイオン電導性と内部構造”

About imec

Imec is the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, energy and digital technologies . The combination of our widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology and profound software and ICT expertise is what makes us unique. By leveraging our world-class infrastructure and local and global ecosystem of partners across a multitude of industries, we create groundbreaking innovation in application domains such as healthcare, smart cities and mobility, logistics and manufacturing, energy and education.

As a trusted partner for companies, start-ups and universities we bring together close to 3,500 brilliant minds from over 70 nationalities. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and has distributed R&D groups at a number of Flemish universities, in the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China, and offices in India and Japan. Imec is a partner in EnergyVille (www.energyville.be). EnergyVille is an association of the Flemish research centers KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt in the field of sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems .In 2016, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 496 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com.

Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.) and imec India (Imec India Private Limited), imec Florida (IMEC USA nanoelectronics design center).

Contact

Hanne Degans, Press Communications Manager, +32 16 28 17 69 // +32 486 06 51 75 // Hanne.Degans@imec.be