The rapidly evolving technology and growing demand for batteries make it crucial to explore complementary solutions that could advance Li-S batteries still further. Solid-state batteries — which offer improved safety and performance — are seen as a promising solution for the electric vehicle industry, which requires longer-range, faster charging, longer-lasting, and safer batteries.
Despite the potential benefits, solid-state batteries have yet to enter mass manufacturing to enable broad market adoption due to challenges with capacity, heat, and stability. This joint project, worth $1.23 million, aims to tackle these obstacles and bring solid-state technology closer to reality. Li-S Energy will invest $450,000, with SafeREnergy and Deakin University contributing $360,000 and $417,617, respectively. The project will be led by Li-S Energy, and the resulting intellectual property will be solely owned by the company as a part of its battery technology IP Portfolio.
This three-year research and development project highlights the importance of continued exploration and innovation in the battery industry. By combining Li-S Energy’s lithium sulfur and lithium metal technologies with solid-state solutions, there is potential to deliver even higher performance and increased safety. The partnership with SafeREnergy and Deakin University marks a significant step towards realising the potential of solid-state batteries and revolutionising the energy industry.
Li-S Energy CEO, Dr Lee Finniear, commented:
“This exciting step into solid-state lithium sulfur batteries is a key progression of the work being undertaken by our research and development team. Our lithium sulfur and lithium metal cells have been scaled up progressively over the last 12 months. Now the opportunity to integrate solid state technologies has the potential to add significant additional performance and safety advantages to our future commercial cells.
I would like to commend both the ARC Research Hub and Deakin University for their collaboration and significant contribution to this important project. I expect this to enable our battery technology to be even more attractive in its future commercial deployment.”
About SafeREnergy
ARC Research Hub for Safe and Reliable Energy (SafeREnergy) was established with $5 million funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and contributions from six Australian universities ($7 million). Ten industry partners will commit $11 million of funding across the life of the Hub. Led by Alfred Deakin Professor Ian Chen, SafeREnergy aims to address battery safety and reliability issues, and environmental impact of current energy storage and conversion technologies.
SafeREnergy brings together Australian universities and industry to deliver a new generation of technologies for storage from small-scale portable devices to large scale industrial applications, using recycled and natural materials, and eliminating the serious fire risk in current technologies. Outcomes include innovative integrated energy conversion and storage technologies and new energy materials and devices designed for different scale applications, benefiting the Australian economy, and potentially transforming the energy industry landscape.
