http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/11/2297717/contour-energy-systems-signs-exclusive.html

Something like this could be a real game changer. If Contour Energy can keep the costs down, we'll soon have batteries that last 10X longer and take a car 10X farther. E.g., the present range of 100 miles for the Leaf and a couple of the other all-electric vehicles coming to market would now be extended to a 1000 miles.

Contour Energy Systems Signs ExclusiveTechnology Licensing Agreement with MIT
Breakthrough Carbon Nanotube Technology Produces Up To TenfoldIncrease in Lithium-Ion Battery Power


ContourEnergy Systems, Inc. an innovative portable power companycommercializing next-generation battery systems, today announced theacquisition of a breakthrough carbon nanotube technology that candramatically improve the power capability of lithium-ion batteries,through an exclusive technology licensing agreement with MassachusettsInstitute of Technology (MIT). Early findings from researchers atMIT confirm that using carbon nanotubes for battery electrodes canproduce a tenfold increase in the amount of power that can be deliveredfrom a given weight of material when compared to a conventionallithium-ion battery, and this performance can be sustained acrossthousands of charge-discharge cycles.

“The carbon nanotubetechnology that we’re adding to our IP portfolio has broad marketimplications,” said Dr. Simon Jones, director of research anddevelopment at Contour Energy Systems. “We will apply this game-changingmaterial to our next-generation line of batteries designed to addressthe longevity and power density requirements for a wide range ofapplications in portable devices spanning automotive, industrial,medical, military and consumer electronics markets.”

Understandingthe Carbon Nanotube Breakthrough

Three basic components makeup lithium-ionbatteries: two electrodes (the anode—or negative electrode—and thecathode, or positive electrode) and an electrolyte that allows chargedions to flow between the electrodes during charge or discharge.

Inthe new battery electrode being developed by Contour Energy Systemsbased on the MIT technology, carbon nanotubes—sheets of pure carbonatoms rolled up into tiny tubes—“self assemble” through a controlleddeposition process driven by electrostatic interactions into a tightlybound structure that is porous at the nanometer scale (billionths of ameter).

“These carbon nanotubes contain numerous functional groupson their surfaces that can store a large number of lithium ions perunit mass,” says Professor Shao-Horn of Mechanical Engineering andMaterials Science and Engineering at MIT. As a result, “for the firsttime, carbon nanotubes can serve as the cathode in lithium-ionbatteries, instead of the traditional role that carbon materials haveplayed as the anode in such systems. This lithium storage reaction onthe surface of carbon nanotubes is much faster than conventional lithiumintercalation reactions, so can deliver high power.”

“The‘electrostatic self-assembly’ process is important,” says Dr. PaulaHammond, Bayer Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering at MassachusettsInstitute of Technology. “Ordinarily, carbon nanotubes deposited on asurface tend to clump together in bundles leaving fewer exposed surfacesto undergo reactions. We’ve discovered that by integrating chargedmolecules on the nanotubes, they can assemble in a way that produces ahighly porous electrode resulting in a greater number of nanotubesaccessible for Li-ion storage and release.”

In terms of what thismeans for lithium-ion battery performance, the new material can producevery high power outputs in short bursts and steady, lower power for longperiods. The energy output for a given weight of this new electrodematerial is over five times greater than for conventionalelectrochemical capacitors while the total power delivery capabilityapproaches 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries.

In addition totheir high power output, the carbon nanotube electrodes demonstrate verygood stability over time. After 1,000 cycles of charging anddischarging a test battery there was no detectable change in thematerial's performance.

“It’s gratifying to see that the extensiveresearch we’ve done on carbon nanotubes is being commercialized throughour technical licensing agreement with Contour Energy Systems,” saidProfessor Shao-Horn. “By dramatically improving the power density oflithium-ion batteries, carbon nanotube technology will pave the way tonew and improved portable power applications.”

About ContourEnergy Systems

ContourEnergy Systems is an innovative portable power companycommercializing customizable battery technologies for a wide range ofcross-industry applications. Contour’s next-generation battery systemsare designed to deliver unprecedented improvements in energy and powerdensity, and are capable of performing in extreme operating conditionsat significantly improved costs. Founded through the collaboration of CalTechand CNRS, the FrenchNational Center for Scientific Research, the company combinesexpertise in nano-materials science, patented Fluorinetic™ technologiesand proprietary manufacturing processes to significantly advance thestate of portable power. Headquartered in Azusa, CA, Contour Energy ismanaged by a world-class team of battery industry leaders from CalTech,Energizer, Duracell, ConocoPhillips, Hewlett-Packard and Ultralife. Thecompany is privately held with funding from CMEACapital, Harrisand Harris, Schlumbergerand USVenture Partners.


Posted on Mon, Oct. 11, 2010 07:14 AM


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