
Advancing Mining Processes to Make Better Materials for Use in Lithium Ion Batteries
American Manganese Inc has developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly hydrometallurgical process to recover manganese (Mn) from lower grade resources. American Manganese has applied for a patent for their hydrometallurgical process that produces electrolytic manganese metal with low energy and water consumption. American Manganese commissioned R&D contractor, Kemetco Research Inc to determine uses of Artillery Peak manganese resource material to generate high value alternative products. Chemical manganese dioxide (CMD) and lithiated manganese oxide (LixMn2O4) for use in rechargeable batteries were the areas researched.
The research was successful in producing CMD from Artillery Peak resource material with low cation impurities and avoiding processing steps that are known to introduce metallic impurities in the final product. Cation impurities cause capacity fade, whereas metallic impurities are known to cause catastrophic failures (such as fire and explosions) in lithium ion batteries. Working rechargeable lithium ion coin cell battery prototypes were produced from the CMD material.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• Catastrophic failure of Li Ion batteries caused by metallic impurities that may be introduced from the mining of raw materials
• Conventional mining process to recover MnO2 used to make LiMn2O4
• Research on a new mining process that avoids steps known to introduce metallic impurities to recover MnO2 used to make LiMn2O4
Presenter
Norman Chow – President – Kemetco Research, Inc.
Norman earned a B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. in Metals and Materials Engineering from University of British Columbia. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) in British Columbia. He has over 15 years of technology development and contract research experience. He is the President of Kemetco Research Inc., which he formed after acquiring the Industrial Process Division of BC Research Inc. BC Research had been in operation for over 60 years as an R&D contractor.
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Solid Electrolytes and Bulk Scale Solid-State Batteries
Recently, the push to move beyond Li – ion battery technology has grown. Several advanced battery technologies & chemistries have been identified as promising candidates including i) solid-state batteries with Li metal anode, ii) Li – S chemistries, iii) Li – air(oxygen), and iv) flow batteries. Although an engineered solution using liquids may be possible for some of these options, a solid electrolyte is an enabling technology for each of these beyond Li – ion alternatives. This webinar will introduce the operating principles of each of these cell technologies and solid electrolytes will be discussed in this context. The requirements of a solid electrolyte will be outlined & several state of the art solid electrolytes will be compared. Recent technical progress towards the fabrication of solid-state batteries will be reviewed. Finally, an overview of market applications for solid-state will be presented.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• Overview of beyond Li – ion battery technologies enabled by solid electrolytes
• Comparison of state of the art solid electrolytes
• Recent technical progress towards solid-state batteries
• Review of market applications for solid-state batteries
Presenter
Travis Thompson – Post Doctorate Research Fellow at University of Michigan
Travis received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2010 from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and his PhD in Materials Science at Michigan State University in 2014. His graduate work has focused on synthesis & processing of materials for direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion & storage. This includes ambient drying of silica aerogels, processing of oxide based thermoelectric materials, & electrochemical characterization of ceramic solid electrolytes for advanced batteries. He is now a Research Fellow at The University of Michigan and is exploring commercialization of Solid-State Batteries from his graduate work.
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BIS Tutorial Course 1/3: Introducing Battery Intelligence Systems (BIS)
FREE Webinar – Voltaiq is a proud sponsor of this event.
While the industry is familiar with the battery and its BMS (battery management system), very few are aware of the critical need for a missing third layer, the Battery Intelligence System (BIS) needed to enable the leap in battery yield, energy density, and lifetime the industry is calling for.
Battery Intelligence Systems are needed to leverage the latent value sitting in data that companies are collecting today, including but not limited to: data generated in battery factories in Asia, product OEMs around the globe, and ‘data lakes’ collecting data from systems in the field.
Your organization already has the building blocks to enable BIS. In this webinar we’ll show you the benefits of unlocking the value of your battery data.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• The need for Battery Intelligence
• State of the industry: insufficient resources to meet aggressive electrification goals
• State of data today: “Treating it like a mushroom and watching it grow”
• Automation of standard analyses
• Traceability with Battery Digital Twins
Presenter
Dr. Tal Sholklapper – CEO at Voltaiq
Dr. Tal Sholklapper is the CEO of Voltaiq. Before co-founding Voltaiq, Dr. Sholklapper was the lead engineer on a DOE ARPA-E funded project at the CUNY Energy Institute, developing an ultra-low-cost grid-scale battery. Prior to his work at CUNY, Dr. Sholklapper co-founded Point Source Power, a low-cost fuel-cell startup based on technology he developed while at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr. Sholklapper has a BS in Physics and Applied Mathematics and an MS and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from UC Berkeley, where he holds the honor of completing the fastest engineering PhD in two and a half years.
Voltaiq is a proud sponsor of this event.
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Finding Your Place as the Industry Doubles Down on Electrified Vehicles
Sales are moving forward, primarily due to the Tesla Model 3. A raft of new vehicles is arriving in 2019. Besides the plug-ins and battery electrics, hybrids (including 48V and stop/start micro hybrids) are coming.
Is it a response to regulatory policy? Yes. Is regulatory policy unclear? Yes. Are some companies leaders and others laggards? Yes. Is the supply base critical to product development? Yes. Automakers are setting their own positions as they try to understand the threats and opportunities in their key global markets, even as the regulatory situation becomes more muddled.
This webinar will focus on the following key topics:
• Current Sales Trends Regarding EVs and Hybrids
• EPA/NHTSA vs. The Automakers!?
• California, EU, and China March Forward
• Strategies in Near-, Medium-, and Long-Term for Supplier and Automaker
Presenter
Alan Baum – Principal, Baum & Associates
Alan Baum formed Baum & Associates in August 2009. The company produces a detailed sales forecast and product life cycle for hybrid and electric vehicles. Baum has experience analyzing the impact of alternative fuel vehicles as well as advanced technologies in internal combustion engines that provide improved fuel economy. Since the 1980s, Baum has produced an automotive production forecast and detailed analysis of the automotive market. He has experience in the area of fuel economy and emissions regulation, the impact of fuel prices, & the market for hybrid and electric vehicles.
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