All solid state batteries manufactured by Spark Plasma Sintering – SoliBat

Since the 90’, rechargeable Li-ion batteries are the most widely used for energy storage in portable devices. However, today’s most performing cells have almost reached their intrinsic limits while the demand in terms of performances and safety is still increasing. Commercially available batteries may not be able to answer the needs of new emerging applications (electric and hybrid vehicles, storage of sustainable energy...), or even more specific applications with strong added value. In this context, it is necessary to develop advanced battery technologies with characteristics such as high energy densities, long life, low production cost, little or no maintenance and a high degree of safety. “All solid state” Li-ion batteries may withstand such requirements and offer additional interests if we consider the possibility to work at high temperature or to design specific cell geometry. Up to now the development of such technology has faced assembly problems. Recent results obtained in the context of the project CeraLion (Stock-E-07-04) show the feasibility of developing bulk-type all solid state batteries by Spark Plasma Sintering. The objectives of this new project are then to valorize our previous results and the associated pending patent by bringing the use of all solid state technology closed to the applications. This project requires remaining relatively fundamental by considering the optimization of existing materials to fit the applications requirements in the aim to improve our prototypes performances. This will only be achieved by optimizing in parallel the formulation/mixture of solid compounds (active materials, electrolyte, electronic additive) in the composite electrodes. These lasts must have an optimized microstructure insuring ionic and electronic percolation within the ceramic volume without penalizing the energy density. The all solid state batteries will be obtained by adjusting parameters of the sintering technique from which the study of the influence on the electrochemical behavior of cells will allow to isolate the optimal conditions. These parameters will be used to prepare cells, some of which will have a peculiar geometry. These cells will then be characterized using standards defined by our industrial partner, which will validate the all solid state technology.