Oxis Energy will deploy its solid-state lithium sulfur cell and battery systems for use in trials, proof-of-concept and demonstrator systems by this Autumn.
The systems, designed in collaboration with European manufacturers, are designed for the aviation, marine, defence and heavy electric vehicle (HEV) sectors.
The company’s existing clients have been informed that all new programmes will use the company’s solid-state lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell technology.
The company is also moving towards roll-out of its quasi solid-state Li-S, batteries, with the UK firm planning to scale-up and commercialise 450Wh/kg and 550 Wh/L versions of the technology by the summer of 2022.
Oxis will commercialise the mass production of the chemical composition of its quasi and solid-state cell at its Welsh Plant in Port Talbot; the cells will be mass produced at its manufacturing plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Brazil’s technology firm Nordika Pharmaceutical has begun the design work at the factory with completion expected in the Autumn, and commissioning by 2023.
A target of 550Wh/kg, 700Wh/L has been set for the technology by Autumn 2023.
Targets for both forms of the li-S technology have been agreed commercially between Oxis and Japan’s Sanyo Trading Company to meet customer requirements for the Japanese market.
Quasi solid-state lithium-sulfur cells have an identical manufacturing process to conventional lithium-sulfur (Li-S) and lithium-ion.
A quasi solid-state cell uses a liquid/gel electrolyte, and similar materials and structure of the cathode to all-solid-state lithium-sulfur
An Oxis spokesman told BEST: “The fundamental electrochemical mechanisms are identical to those occurring in All-Solid-State Li-S, with the formation of non-soluble polysulfides at the cathode side. In other words, sulfur remains in the cathode during operation.
“This presents many advantages and allows for enhanced specific (Wh/kg) and volumetric energy (Wh/l) densities whilst enabling longer cycle life when compared to Conventional Li-S.
“Such benefits are also present in all-solid-state Li-S, however the manufacturability and scale-up of quasi-solid-state Li-S is much more straightforward as reuses technology and machineries already developed for the Li-ion industry.”
