Dr Tony Hollenkamp is the project leader for CSIRO’s lithium metal battery research.

Lithium metal battery research

This Energy Transformed Flagship program uses the expertise of CSIRO Energy Technology to develop next generation lithium metal battery technology.

• 12 January 2006 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Current activities
• Applications
• Commercial potential
• Impact

The best performing batteries now available are lithium metal and lithium polymer batteries. Lithium ion batteries are preferred because they are potentially cheaper and less toxic than nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries.

Our research aims to develop a rechargeable lithium metal battery that is safe, works over a wide temperature range and delivers specific energy that is at least 25 per cent better than that available with contemporary lithium ion battery technology.

Current activities

A key breakthrough of the research program was the discovery of a novel group of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs). These are environmentally friendly, organic ionic salts that, when applied to energy storage devices, deliver:

• improved safety compared with conventional electrolytes
• zero volatility, as well as being non-toxic and non-flammable
• thermal and electrochemical stability
• improved design flexibility
• new product applications with reliable functionality over a wide temperature range, from zero to 200 degrees Celsius.

We are currently trying to:

• develop new RTILs with even better electrolyte properties
• address problems of incompatibility between the RTIL and the cathode materials currently available.

Through our work on RTILs we are also considering new approaches to producing advanced electrolytes for uses such as fuel cell membranes and photochemical devices.

Applications

Industrial applications include:

• standby and backup power
• electricity generation peak shaving

  “Ionic liquid electrolytes have significantly lower vapour pressure and better thermal stability than standard lithium ion battery electrolytes, significantly reducing the risk of fire and explosion”

  Dr Adam Best
• hybrid and electric vehicles
• remote area power supply.

Because our new lithium metal battery technology operates effectively at higher temperatures, new market opportunities are continually opening in the transport, commercial, defence, mining and oil and gas sectors.

Consumer electronic manufacturers are also demanding high energy devices that are more powerful, safer, environmentally friendly and have design flexibility.

Commercial potential

The average person in an industrialised country now consumes 35 batteries a year meaning the commercial potential for rechargeable lithium metal batteries is huge.

The global market for rechargeable batteries is rapidly expanding with a 17 per cent increase to US$4.5 billion in 2003.

Impact

Success in the research program will generate a superior energy storage device that will eventually replace all existing lithium ion batteries. This move towards the new technology will greatly improve the viability and cost effectiveness of a range of energy based technologies, such as fuel cell vehicles. This will have a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved energy efficiency.

Find out more about CSIRO's work in Energy Generation & Storage.