SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Direct Ink Writing of Hierarchical Zn Foam Electrodes for Energy Storage Applications
- Notice Date
- 7/24/2023 9:51:55 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 335910
—
- Contracting Office
- LLNS � DOE CONTRACTOR Livermore CA 94551 USA
- ZIP Code
- 94551
- Solicitation Number
- IL-13684andIL-13714
- Response Due
- 8/23/2023 10:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 09/07/2023
- Point of Contact
- Jared Lynch, Phone: 9254226667, Charlotte Eng, Phone: 9254221905
- E-Mail Address
-
lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov
(lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov)
- Description
- 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 advanced manufacturing techniques for zinc anode materials by Direct Ink Writing. Background: Currently, lithium-ion batteries dominate the renewable energy storage market. However, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is rising far more quickly than investments in the raw materials required to produce them. Lithium-ion raw materials are not produced in sufficient quantities to meet the imminent demand from both of those markets. This shortage will become even more severe as governments around the world pass legislation that accelerates the transition to EVs and renewables. New battery technologies are sorely needed to address this shortage. Since lithium is unlikely to be replaced for EVs given lithium�s intrinsic properties, the LLNL team is concentrating on energy grid applications. One of the most heated debates in grid energy is how deeply the grid can rely on renewable energy. At the heart of this debate is the fact that renewable energy sources are intermittent. In other words, a grid with lots of renewables needs ways of smoothing and balancing out the fluctuations in energy production. There are other sources of grid flexibility, but the one that seems to have the most potential is energy storage. The world's ability to transition to clean energy depends on the availability of safe, cheap and reliable rechargeable batteries. A zinc-ion battery operates using the same principles as lithium-ion. When comparing cost and volumetric energy density, although Li-ion batteries have higher volumetric energy densities and long cycle life, Zn-MnO2 batteries can achieve a similar target with reasonable (1000-3000) cycle life when only a small fraction of the theoretical capacity of MnO2 and Zn was utilized. Combined with low cost and ease of manufacturing, this type of battery is a promising technology for scaling up to energy grid applications. However, the challenge to overcome is developing high mass loading anodes matched to cathode materials. Description: Improving the active material of the Zn anode is critical to improving the practicality of Zn-MnO2 battery technology. LLNL researchers have developed a new category of 3D structured Zn anode using a direct-ink writing (DIW) printing process to create innovative hierarchical architectures.� The DIW ink, which is a gel-based mixture composed of zinc metal powder and organic binders, is extruded from a nozzle into 3D periodic structures with precise digital control. The ink mixture is formulated to achieve the desired rheology that would guarantee a successful printing process. The DIW printing technique allows for the fabrication of complex microarchitectures that can be carefully designed to provide high accessible surface area, good reversibility and high zinc utilization of the anode. This deliberate tuning of the anode�s architecture cannot be achieved via traditional powder casting techniques where random distribution of Zn powders are expected. Advantages/Benefits:� Zinc-ion batteries: Have power performance and compactness to be competitive with lithium-ion for renewable energy storage Have water-based chemistry which is intrinsically safe and non-flammable. Utilize zinc, which is abundant and inexpensive, which solves supply chain issues facing lithium as well as providing significant cost reductions. The novel LLNL-developed Zn anode is: Made with 3D printable ink that can be tailored to have suitable rheological properties Structurally robust Can be tuned to have properties that enhances its performance (e.g., design complex lattice microarchitecture for improving long cycle life and Zn utilization while enabling high energy and power densities) Potential Applications:� Energy grid storage Addressing renewable energy intermittency issues Development Status:� Current stage of technology development:� TRL 4 LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention. U.S. Patent Application No. US20230132546A1 System and method for 3D printing porous zinc structure published 5/4/2023 U.S. Patent Application No. US20230173579A1 Fabrication of 3d-printed copper based zinc anodes published 6/8/2023 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 Direct Ink Writing of Hierarchical Zn Foam Electrodes for Energy Storage Applications should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 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 Direct Ink Writing of Hierarchical Zn Foam Electrodes for Energy Storage Applications. 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:�� IL-13684 and IL-13714
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/07e8d00b413f429bb992ad17390ada51/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Livermore, CA, USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN06760230-F 20230726/230724230048 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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