TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 3D Printed Composite Copper Current Collectors for Controlled Lithium Deposition

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its 3D Printed Composite Copper Current Collectors for Controlled Lithium Deposition.

Background:

To satisfy the large market demands for smaller and lighter rechargeable batteries, high-capacity metallic Li has been investigated to replace low specific capacity graphite as a next generation anode material enabling higher energy density in next-generation rechargeable Li metal batteries (LMBs), or all solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with Li metal as the anode.  However, aggressive Li metal chemistry makes it challenging to serve as an anode material in LMB and/or ASSBs.  The main R&D direction to address these challenges aims to achieve uniform Li deposition during Li plating and stripping to protect the lithium metal anode from dendrite formation.  More recently, attention has focused on the design of Li anodes and current collectors, to inhibit the growth of Li dendrites.  Lowering the local current density along the anode surface with a high surface area current, or through the addition of anode host materials or through the use of porous lithium-metal anodes could potentially prevent the onset of dendrite nuclei and reduce the speed of dendrite growth.  However, many of these designs are often accompanied with increased internal resistance and the loss of active materials. The complicated manufacturing process of these nanostructured materials also restricts their practical application.

Description:

LLNL researchers has developed a composite copper current collector formulation readily used in DIW 3D printing to guide lithium-ion plating/dissolution during charging and discharging cycles. The DIW formulation consists of a range of Cu precursor, solvent, metallic additives allowing for an extrudable formulation which can then be printed into 3D-complex architectures or planar films.  After heat treatment, the Cu-based metallic current collectors can be used in a similar fashion as traditional electroplated Cu foils as a substrate for the anode electrode in the electrochemical cell.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• 3D Printable formulations
• Customizable formulations allow for easy tuning of the current collector electrical properties
• Spatially controlled lithium deposition/stripping during cycling
• Improved battery performance in preliminary testing (>95% Coulombic efficiency at 800 cycles)
• Suitable with solid or liquid electrolytes
• Scalable and low-cost manufacturing using DIW or traditional film casting techniques

Potential Applications: 

• All Solid-State Batteries with Lithium metal anode
• Anode Free Li metal battery
• Consumer Electronics
• Electric Vehicles

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2     ☒ 3-5     ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's 3D Printed Composite Copper Current Collectors for Controlled Lithium Deposition should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's 3D Printed Composite Copper Current Collectors for Controlled Lithium Deposition.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention: 2025-018