Wildcat Discovery Technologies, a technology company using high throughput methods to develop improved battery materials, is pleased to announce that it has been granted a second patent on the development of electrolytes that improve performance of lithium ion batteries containing silicon anodes.
These novel electrolytes were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), in which Wildcat was an award recipient under the 2013 Vehicle Technologies Program Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0000793. The goal of the project was to develop novel non-carbonate based electrolytes for silicon anodes. The use of silicon anodes will enable substantial improvements in energy density at a reduced cost relative to today’s lithium-ion batteries, but their commercial adoption still requires improved electrolytes.
Wildcat’s first patent from this work, awarded in late 2018, covered the use of sulfolane-based electrolytes. This new patent covers acrylate-based additives which can be used with more conventional solvents.
Wildcat’s CEO, Mark Gresser, commented, “We’re thankful for the support from the U.S. Department of Energy; DOE funding and guidance made these discoveries possible, and we look forward to commercializing this patented technology to improve EV battery performance with a future license partner.”
Wildcat used its unique accelerated development method to prepare and evaluate several thousand electrolyte formulations during the year-long effort. Wildcat’s ability to rapidly prepare and test thousands of electrolytes enabled its scientists to evaluate a large number of new additives in its quest to find a formulation solution that outperforms FEC-based electrolytes when cycled in full cells with a silicon anode.
If interested in sampling or licensing Wildcat’s new electrolytes, please contact the company for additional information.
For more information about this press release or joint development agreement opportunities, please contact:
Jon Jacobs
Wildcat Discovery Technologies
VP, Business Development
(858) 550-1980 x114
[email protected]