Asahi Kasei to license new LiC process
The Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei has started licensing design and manufacturing technology for lithium-ion capacitors (LiCs) as next-generation energy storage devices.
The novel method enables LiCs to be manufactured cost-effectively using commonly available materials and equipment used to make lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). At the same time, it enables the development and production of LiCs with increased capacity and improved input/output performance. LiCs are suitable for applications that require a lot of energy in a short time and can be recharged quickly. Due to their long life and high safety, LiCs are also likely to be used in mobility applications such as electric trams and buses, which are charged at each stop instead of drawing power from overhead lines, according to Asahi Kasei.
Normally, the conventional LiC manufacturing process requires expensive materials for the ‘pre-doping’ process, such as perforated foil and lithium metal foil, as Asahi Kasei writes. “Furthermore, as lithium metal is highly reactive and hazardous, additional costs are incurred to maintain a safe working environment.” In order to keep costs low, Asahi Kasei developed a low-cost pre-doping method using inexpensive lithium carbonate as the source of lithium ions, cutting out the requirement for the above-mentioned expensive materials. Furthermore, in this process method, “the lithium carbonate is included in the cathode and pre-doping is performed at initial charging, when nearly all of the lithium carbonate decomposes and lithium ions transfer to the anode”.
Asahi Kasei states that the goal is to promote the production of LiCs all over the world, because demand is steadily and significantly growing. The reason is electromobility and the increased use of renewable energies. According to Asahi Kasei, LiCs are to be preferred because they release a lot of energy in a short time and can also be recharged quickly.
Due to their long service life and high safety, LiCs are also likely to be used in trams and e-buses, according to Asahi Kasei. The electric vehicles would then be charged at the stops instead of drawing power from the overhead lines via current collectors.
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