ARPA-E Spotlights UMD Awardee

The July 11, 2018 ARPA-E Newsletter highlighted one of the 17 UMD ARPA-E awards. See the excerpts from the newsletter:

As part of ARPA-E’s RANGE program, the University of Maryland has built a tri-layer electrode-electrolyte featuring a porous structure for both the positive and negative electrodes, with a dense, thin-solid electrolyte sandwiched between them. The team also leveraged a new atomic layer deposition protective technique using a thin aluminum oxide coating.

These two innovations address the major challenges of garnet-electrolyte batteries and allow for fewer control systems. Tests indicate that with high-volume manufacturing, this solid-state system may be cost competitive with traditional Li-ion batteries with decreased weight and better safety.

With the development of a highly lithium conductive electrolyte providing a rigid, self-supporting architecture with low internal resistance, the UMD team's battery has the potential to overcome the energy density plateau of Li-Ion chemistry. For a detailed assessment of the UMD project and impact, please click here.

Published July 11, 2018