Material developer Saint-Gobain announced that it will be partnering with Israeli tech startup Addionics to improve the capacity and performance of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The two companies will collaborate in developing solid-state lithium-ion batteries with novel electrode components. The partnership aims to increase EV driving range, slash charging time in half, enhance safety and reduce production costs.
Addionics brings to the partnership its patented 3D electrode fabrication method, which provides a so-called smart 3D structure that “minimizes the internal resistance and improves mechanical longevity, thermal stability and other fundamental limitations and degradation factors in standard batteries,” according to the company’s website.
According to Addionics CEO Dr. Moshiel Biton, the smart 3D structure can significantly boost battery energy density and cycle life, allowing EVs to deliver better performance while generating less waste. The structure of the battery interface also directly addresses common issues with interfacial resistance in solid-state batteries.
Saint-Gobain recently developed new components for solid-state batteries. The company’s electrolyte technology has achieved high lithium-ion conductivity that is on par with advanced solid electrolytes. This means it can substitute the liquid electrolytes typically found in lithium-ion batteries and increase its electrical energy storage capacity. Solid electrolytes are known to be generally safer since they have better thermal stability. That is thanks to a physical barrier that separates positive and negative electrodes, preventing thermal runaways when operating under high temperatures.
However, solid-state batteries tend to be expensive to produce, often making them impractical choices for consumer applications. Since they offer higher density compared to conventional batteries, they’re an ideal choice for EVs. According to Saint-Gobain’s Mark Hampden-Smith, the new solid-state electrolyte technology can enhance the “safety and performance for next-generation batteries with the potential for low-cost manufacturing.”
The two companies will be working on the batteries under the Israel-US BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Energy program. The BIRD Foundation has been funding and deploying joint research and development projects that bridge together the U.S. and Israeli tech companies. The organization expressed its enthusiasm over the partnership between Saint-Gobain and Addionics.
“We are excited to support this partnership between Addionics and Saint-Gobain, and we look forward to the technological advancements they will make,” said Limor Nakar-Vincent, BIRD Energy’s deputy executive director of business development. “This project is of great interest to both countries seeking to develop and commercialize clean energy technologies that support innovative technologies and improve economic competitiveness.”
Prior to the collaboration with Addionics, Saint-Gobain became the Argonne National Laboratory and Berkley Lab’s official industry partner in August 2020. The team worked on two projects that intended to scale up halide-type solid electrolytes for solid-state batteries. This was part of the 13 projects funded by the Department of Energy under its Manufacturing Lab Call program.