CSIRO teams with Piotrek on solid-state batteries

The CSIRO has entered a partnership with Japanese specialist chemical manufacturer Piotrek to globally commercialise Australian-developed lithium battery technologies.

The two companies have teamed up to develop the next generation of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for lithium batteries using CSIRO’s proprietary RAFT (Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer) polymer technology and Piotrek’s ion conducting polymers (ICP).

SPE or solid-state batteries are a class of lithium batteries that typically use a lithium metal anode, which promises to give them capacities twice the size of today’s lithium batteries. The batteries include no volatile or flammable liquids, eliminating the risk of fire if a cell is damaged.

CSRIRO Battery Research Leader Dr Adam Best said solid-state battery enabled devices are expected to reach the market by 2025 if not sooner.

“Our RAFT technology allows us to tune our SPEs’ properties to expand their versatility for different types of batteries and fuel cells, and will also significantly reduce the cost of device assembly and manufacture.”

The technology was jointly developed by the CSIRO’s Dr John Chiefari and Professors Maria Forsyth and Patrick Howlett from Deakin University’s BatTri Hub.

Chiefari said the five-year partnership with Piotrek will facilitate fast tracking the development of an SPE for use in high-energy lithium batteries for electric vehicles and drones, with a capacity of 4.5 to 5 V.

“This development will underpin the growth of high-energy batteries for the electric vehicle market,” he said.

“By developing and exploiting disruptive technology platforms, we’re supporting the creation of new businesses and industries for Australia and the world.”

Pictured: CSIRO’s lithium battery experience spans 35 years, with expertise in characterisation, fabrication and testing of lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries.