The U.S. Department of
Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and
Toda Kogyo Corp. of Japan have reached a world-wide
licensing agreement for the commercial production and sales of
Argonne's patented composite cathode materials for lithium-ion
batteries, which result in longer-lasting, safer batteries for
hybrid-electric vehicles, cell phones, laptop computers and
other applications.
This cathode technology is part of a
large and diverse portfolio of lithium-ion battery
inventions and patents developed at Argonne. Funded
primarily by DOE's
Vehicle Technologies Program, the scientists and
engineers at Argonne have developed numerous
technologies for improving the life, safety and
performance of lithium-ion batteries, including several
types of more stable advanced cathode and anode
materials for higher power or higher energy storage
applications and electrolyte systems that further
stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interfaces.
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"Our agreement with Toda Kogyo is an important step toward
bringing to market key advanced lithium-ion battery technologies
that are being developed here at Argonne with funding from the
U.S. Department of Energy," Gary Henriksen, Manager of the
Electrochemical Energy Storage Department at Argonne, said. "The
technologies being licensed will enhance the performance, life
and inherent safety of lithium-ion cells compared to those that
employ the cobalt-based cathode technology that has dominated
the market since the introduction of lithium-ion batteries in
1990."
The family of structurally integrated composite cathode
materials being licensed uses a new combination of
lithium/manganese mixed metal oxides in a revolutionary
materials-design approach to extend the time between charges,
increase calendar life and improve lithium-ion cell safety.
The new cathode materials are comprised of a composite matrix
using an inherently stable inactive lithium-metal oxide that is
integrated with a highly active form of another lithium-metal
oxide component. This composite allows for greater levels of
lithium to be used, while reducing oxygen-induced side reactions
at the electrode surface that limit cell life and safety. The
enhanced stability of these materials allows the system to be
charged to higher voltages, leading to a significantly higher
energy storage capacity than currently available materials
through both the higher voltage and higher capacity per unit
weight of active material.
"We are very enthusiastic about the impact of Toda's
commitment to manufacture and market these technologies through
the license," Steve Ban, director of Argonne's Office of
Technology Transfer, said. "We believe the near-term commercial
use of these materials and other battery technologies developed
at Argonne will provide broad benefits to users of batteries
containing the advanced materials and prove the value of closely
linking research in basic battery science to applied R&D efforts
in the area, as is the approach here at Argonne."
This licensing agreement is integral to DOE's
commercialization efforts, which includes a full spectrum of
activities required to rapidly move a new technology, product,
or process from its conceptual stage to the marketplace.
With over 180 years of experience manufacturing and supplying
high-performance materials in various markets, Toda Kogyo Corp.
has established itself as a respected supplier of materials in
the lithium ion and nickel-metal hydride battery markets.
"We are eager to expand our existing battery material product
portfolio with Argonne's technology, and happy to do so through
this agreement," said Andy Jazdanian, Manager of Toda America
Inc., based in Schaumberg, Illinois. Kenji Ogisu, President of
Toda Kogyo's internal Energy Solutions Company, added, "We
believe the high-capacity NMC (lithiated nickel-manganese-cobalt
oxide) technology we are commercializing are the materials of
the future, that will solve many of the performance issues we
see today in lithium-ion batteries."
In addition to plants in Japan, Toda recently acquired a
plant in the Detroit area that will help Toda serve U.S.
automobile manufacturers. Toda Advanced Materials Inc. in
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada produces cathode materials and their
precursors for lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride batteries
with a combined annual production capacity of 4,000 metric tons.
Argonne National Laboratory News Release, March 13, 2008
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