High performance 3D-Li anodes with recycled and sustainably sourced carbon scaffolds

Li-ion batteries are the most widely used rechargeable battery technologies in various scale application from small portable electronic devices, to electric vehicles and grid storage. Employing graphite as the anode material, they offer energy densities of ~100-265 Wh/kg. However, high energy densities (\>200 Wh/kg) are only reached at slow charge rates. Metallic Li is a superior anode offering significantly higher gravimetric/volumetric energy densities due to its low density and redox-potential. Additionally, the main processes during charge/discharge with Li metal anodes are Li deposition/stripping instead of Li intercalation/deintercalation which affect the overall kinetics. Hence, switching from conventional graphite anodes in Li-ion batteries to Li metal anodes offers a step-change in both mileage and charge/discharge rates for electric vehicles and can answer the demand for high energy and power applications.

Sigma Lithium (SL) have developed an advanced 3D-Li anode battery technology which is inherently safer, cost-competitive, and exhibits higher specific energy/power densities against current state-of-the-art. SL's 3D-Li anode offers a lightweight, mechanically robust, and porous scaffold coated with Li, which increases the gravimetric/volumetric energy densities and enables the safe use of highly reactive Li by reducing local current densities. A platform solution, SL's innovative battery technology can be applied to multiple battery chemistries.

SL are now working with Gen2Carbon to optimise the composition of the carbon fibre scaffold for improved battery performance, while creating a sustainable product from recycled carbon fibre materials which would otherwise have gone to landfill.