Sepion Advances EV Battery Safety with AI-Driven Non-Flammable Electrolyte
30 Abril 2024 - 7:01AM
Business Wire
New Liquid Electrolyte is a Game-Changer to Reduce Fire Risks in
Lithium Batteries
Sepion Technologies, a leading developer of nanoengineered
separator coatings and liquid electrolytes for faster charging,
lower-cost, and energy-dense lithium-ion and lithium-metal
batteries, has deployed its proprietary materials discovery
platform powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing a
non-flammable liquid electrolyte that can reduce the risk and
severity of fires in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
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Sepion Advances EV Battery Safety with
AI-Driven Non-Flammable Electrolyte (Graphic: Business Wire)
Sepion’s researchers subjected the newly discovered liquid
electrolyte to flammability testing against standard commercial
lithium-ion battery electrolytes, demonstrating its efficacy and
safety features with a flash point exceeding 70°C and
self-extinguishing time (SET) that is 25 times better than
commercial lithium-ion battery electrolytes. See the electrolyte
flammability testing video here: https://youtu.be/9DdAM5RRU_w
“Safety is at the forefront when customers seek new,
better-performing battery technologies for e-mobility applications.
Making a non-flammable electrolyte capable of sustaining 3C fast
charging with a lithium-metal anode is a significant milestone for
Sepion and the industry. With this breakthrough, we move closer to
unlocking a 40 percent increase in range with rapid charging
capabilities for the next generation of EVs,” explained Sepion
Technologies’ VP of Business Development, Salil Soman.
Searching for an optimal electrolyte solution that meets several
contrasting performance metrics requires sifting through and
assessing millions of different material properties and their
combinations. Sepion’s advanced AI platform revolutionizes the
material discovery process by identifying up to 10 million
formulations in just one week – rapidly examining extensive
libraries of materials from component categories such as salts,
solvents, and additives. This is not possible using traditional
research techniques. With the in-silico power of AI, Sepion’s
researchers and scientists can quickly narrow their focus, saving
time and utilizing the lab resources strictly for ex-situ and
in-situ screening of the most favorable candidate formulations.
The process starts with classical and quantum-mechanical
modeling (DFT) of component properties at the molecular level,
followed by molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and AI tools that
predict properties, including flash point and viscosity. After
selecting the most promising material candidates, Sepion
researchers formulate electrolytes and polymers for further ex-situ
screening and in-cell evaluations. This AI-assisted process can
accomplish years’ worth of work in just weeks or months.
“Sepion’s AI-based materials discovery approach accelerates
R&D, leading to the discovery of groundbreaking solutions like
this non-flammable electrolyte, addressing and reducing critical
fire risks in lithium batteries,” noted Sepion’s CTO Brian Sisk,
PhD. “Our streamlined research process is closed-loop, including
swift identification of high-value compounds, allowing our
scientists to synthesize, formulate, and test battery electrolytes.
We feed this data back into the machine-learning algorithms for
iterative improvements. This continuous learning process, which
includes feedback from data validation in pouch cells, has
demonstrated performance improvements much faster than possible
with traditional experimentation. We are excited about the
opportunities that exist at the intersection of physics and machine
learning.”
The computational toolset delivers advanced capabilities well
beyond electrolyte development, also encompassing optimization of
nanoengineered polymer coatings for separators, thereby
facilitating revolutionary advancements in battery performance by
discovering and developing novel materials.
Prioritizing safety in battery technology, Sepion has recently
achieved UN/DOT38.3 certification for their energy-dense
lithium-metal pouch cells, showcasing the critical role of
innovations such as this self-extinguishing electrolyte in
advancing the safety standards of lithium batteries.
Sepion is committed to bringing this groundbreaking technology
to market with its current commercial partners and exploring new
collaborations with global auto manufacturers and stakeholders in
the energy storage sector. As a leader in battery materials
innovation, the company continues to advance technological
frontiers dedicated to fostering a safer and more sustainable
future.
To learn more about Sepion Technologies, visit
SepionTechnologies.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X
(Twitter).
About Sepion Technologies
Headquartered in Alameda, Calif., Sepion’s core innovations –
centered on soft separator coatings and liquid electrolytes – are
designed for manufacturing, enabling incumbent lithium-ion battery
manufacturers to utilize their existing infrastructure to deliver a
step change in performance with minimal switching costs. Sepion was
founded on research conducted at the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence
Berkeley National Lab and spun out with the support of the
prestigious Cyclotron Road energy technology incubator, now part of
the Activate organization.
Sepion’s roots extend to the US Department of Energy’s
innovation hub, the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research
(JCESR), and awards from ARPA-E, Advanced Manufacturing Office,
California Energy Commission, and New Energy Nexus who have
amplified their growth. Sepion is on a mission to sustainably power
humankind with breakthrough battery products.
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