Global Nano Network is part of a consortium dedicated to pioneering novel conductive polymers for Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) applications. This £639k, 12-month project has secured funding from UK Research and Innovation’s Faraday Battery Challenge, facilitated by Innovate UK.
The core objective is to bolster the UK’s competitiveness across the battery value chain by shifting battery innovation from theoretical potential to practical commercial viability, thereby ensuring the nation’s ability to meet its net zero commitments.
Teamed with The University of Warwick (Warwick Manufacturing Group), Graphene Star Limited, Rapid Powders Limited, and Euriscus Limited, the consortium is actively engaged in a feasibility study. The primary focus lies in creating a thin, lightweight current collector tailored specifically for Lithium-Ion Batteries used in Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Given that LIB batteries represent a substantial weight and cost factor in electric vehicles, this pioneering initiative aims to introduce a cost-effective, lightweight polymer current collector to replace the conventional aluminium and copper foil counterparts. The anticipated outcome is a projected reduction of 4kg in a standard 50kg automotive battery pack, potentially elevating the battery’s charge and power density.
Click here to download UKRIs Faraday Projects Brochure and read more about this project.