Licensing Opportunity: Microballast Electrode Materials

Invention Reference Number: 202305514 Current battery materials such as silicon suffer from poor ion and electron transport due to non-optimal wiring. This invention facilitates particle interconnectedness to facilitate ion motion and electron transport overcoming poor assembly.

Using a microscale ballast effect resulting in increased electrical connectivity between anode particles and conductive carbon constituents results in a composite electrode with optimal connectivity to facilitate ion transport and reduce corrosion. Description This technology aims to provide optimal electrode fabrication for better battery performance. The invention is a battery anode where electrons have to move through an optimized pathway so they go in the right direction.

Typically, increasingly thick electrodes have poor electronic conductivity creating a less effective battery. This invention orients the pathway for electrons using a ballast effect to facilitate ion transport. This creates very fast pathways for electrons to go through all the materials, and optimizes how the battery material is assembled for better performance. The microballast makes the electrons orient in the right way and aligns particles so they give optimal transport.

Thus it creates a more effective battery through better alignment and wiring of the battery.

Benefits Faster battery charging More efficient and effective batteries More effective ionic transport Optimal electrode fabrication Applications and Industries Rechargeable batteries Battery fabrication Battery electrodes Electrochemical systems such as fuel cells, catalysts Cathode and anode chemistry, electrolyzers Electric vehicles Stationary power Contact To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.