I-Corps: Translation Potential of Glass Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries used with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Autonomous Systems

Award ID: 2638656

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a new class of battery anodes that is glass-based for lithium-ion batteries. Slow battery charge times and poor cold weather performance are preventing automobile owners from buying electric vehicles, particularly those who reside in cold states. This technology uses a glass anode that enables fast charging, high power output, long cycle life, and cold weather performance. In addition, the technology uses a graphite-free active material designed for domestic production and integration with existing electrode-manufacturing processes. Batteries combining rapid recharge, high power, cold-weather operation, durability, and practical energy density may improve the capability and availability of defense and commercial drones, mobile robots, autonomous platforms, industrial equipment, and other critical electrified systems. This may reduce downtime, spare-battery inventory, replacement frequency, and operational restrictions. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of amorphous, glass-based lithium-ion battery anodes. Unlike crystalline graphite, the disordered oxide network supports rapid lithium-ion transport while maintaining structural stability under aggressive charge and discharge conditions. The anode material is produced as a powder and can be incorporated into conventional slurry-cast electrodes using existing lithium-ion manufacturing methods. Previous research demonstrated fast charge, high power, operation under relevant conditions, with cell-level energy density near the commercial benchmark. This may strengthen U.S. battery-material supply chains by advancing a graphite-free active material designed for domestic production and integration with existing electrode-manufacturing processes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman