Mei Chuang has obtained the exclusive license of five battery technologies from ORNL for the research and development of cobalt-free batteries

SMM: it is understood that Sparkz, an energy storage startup, has obtained exclusive authorization for five battery technologies from (ORNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, the main purpose of these five technologies is to increase energy density and reduce cobalt content in batteries, aimed at speeding up the production of electric vehicles and energy storage solutions for the power grid.

Sparkz was founded in 2019, and founder Sanjiv Malhotra described it as "an invisible company that develops electrochemical energy storage technology." The company started out developing mobile portable batteries for the film industry.

When these portable batteries are successfully used in US military facilities, the company plans to expand these mobile portable systems to residential and commercial areas around the world to really solve energy problems and change people's perception of energy, they can become their own power plants, generate foldable solar panels and small wind turbines, and even optimize diesel generators.

Catherine von Berger, the company's chief executive, believes that because of several examples of battery fires, there are growing concerns about the safety of traditional lithium-ion systems, but many in the industry are still unable to distinguish between lithium-ion chemicals, adding that cobalt is harmful, while lithium is not. Although some measures have been taken to reduce the risk of cobalt-based lithium-ion batteries, when there is an opportunity to use low-risk LFP batteries, Why focus on unnecessary research and development to reduce the risk of high-risk batteries?

Compared with the typical cobalt-based lithium battery, LFP battery has longer cycle life, deeper discharge depth and faster charge and discharge rate. SimpliPhi also has competitors in LFP, including BYD and sonnen. Although the latter does not design or manufacture batteries, it has developed a software platform to buy batteries from other manufacturers to compete in the housing market.

Technologies licensed by SPARKZ to develop Oak Ridge include:

* High energy density secondary lithium battery: this high density lithium battery is designed with a new type of cathode and anode, which overcomes the energy density limitations of the existing technology and realizes a more efficient rechargeable battery.

* Cobalt-free layered oxide cathodes: low-cost, cobalt-free cathode materials are developed for improved lithium-ion batteries.

* non-aqueous electrolyte containing diimine lithium salt for rapid charge and discharge of lithium ion batteries: electrolytes are liquid media in which cathodes and anodes "talk" by exchanging electrons. The new electrolyte can charge lithium-ion batteries faster and has a 23% higher charging capacity than other electrolytes during the 12-minute charging process.

* Stabilization of early transition metals for high capacity cathodes in lithium-ion batteries: this innovation improves lithium-ion cathodes, replacing the early transition metal, cobalt, at the relevant position of the cathode, and changing the composition of lithium.

* scale and processing of battery materials: this innovative manufacturing enables industrial production of battery materials through a series of chemical processes.

Cobalt is often used at the positive charge end of batteries, or cathodes, and the development of cobalt-free cathodes is a focus in the energy storage industry. Many companies, including SimpliPhi, mentioned in previous articles by the micro-lithium team, are working to remove cobalt from the lithium-ion battery supply chain.

Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive, also said he wanted cobalt use in the company's electric cars to be "almost zero". This has something to do with earlier reports of child labour in cobalt mines in the Congo.

"Cobalt is not sustainable to move towards an electrified world with millions of electric vehicles," the Oak Ridge Department of Energy and Transportation Science said. "

Today, cobalt-free batteries have been ecologically applied. Lithium Werks, a Dutch energy storage company, has targeted the marine market, including batteries used on ships such as yachts, and plans to study the safety characteristics of cobalt-free lithium batteries in this regard.

In addition, another focus of Sparkz research is to increase the energy density of batteries, which is particularly important for electric vehicles. Density has long been the selling point of electric vehicle batteries. If you increase the battery weight significantly per kilowatt-hour, it will raise the threshold of electric vehicles and have an impact on mileage anxiety.

High energy density can also have an impact on lithium-ion batteries used in the power grid, although the effect is not as direct as it is for electric vehicles. Industry insiders believe that since most lithium-ion batteries are manufactured by the large electric vehicle industry, the benefits of high-density batteries will permeate the fixed energy storage industry.

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