The two UMD projects were among 22 projects that have been selected by ARPA-E to receive $36m in funding, under its Robust Affordable Next Generation Energy Storage Systems (RANGE) program.
The first University of Maryland ARPA-E project – Multiple-Electron Aqueous Battery, led by Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Chunseng Wang in partnership with Kan Xu at the Army Research Laboratory, was awarded $405,000, while the second project – Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery with Ceramic Electrolyte, led by University of Maryland Energy Research Director and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Eric Wachsman, has secured $574,275.
As part of Multiple-Electron Aqueous Battery project, the researchers will develop a hybridized ions aqueous battery that could cut the Li-ion battery system cost in half and would enable an EV to travel two times as long per charge, and will develop ceramic materials and processing methods to enable high-power, solid-state, lithium-ion batteries, under Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery project.
Commenting on the projects, Prof. Wachsman said that due to their all solid state construction, these lithium-ion batteries are non-flammable and intrinsically safe.
"Moreover due to their novel highly conductivity materials and fabrication methods will exceed current goals for electric vehicle range, acceleration, and cost," added Wachsman.
