SBIR-STTR Award

The ALE-PNNL Team is developing a nonflammable high capacity and high power 18650 cell using nonflammable electrolyte for military electric vehicle and energy storage applications. The 18650 cells will be nonflammable even under extreme temperature conditions and after metal penetration, even including bullet penetration.

The proposed work, a joint effort by both American Lithium Energy (ALE) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), employs a comprehensive strategy to achieve non-flammability in the event of various kinds of abuse. The enhancement of the electrolyte thermal stability through development of non-flammable electrolytes by PNNL aims to eliminate the fuel. ALE’s SafeCore safety technology intends to prevent sharp temperature rise via self-decomposing layers to the electrodes under abuse conditions and avoid loss of overall cell thermal stability. This comprehensive approach to mitigate thermal runways will be an excellent solution for ensuring safety in the applications of LIBs without compromising performance and increasing cost.