Exxon: Film May Lead to Car Battery that is Lighter and Safer

It seems that everyone is getting into the battery business, one of them will succeed in making a smaller, lighter and less expensive battery.  This development by ExxonMobil sound very promising.

ExxonMobil Chemical and ExxonMobil's Japanese affiliate, Tonen Chemical have developed a thin film separator for use in lithium-ion batteries, that would enable production of batteries like those found in cell phones and laptops, to power cars and trucks. These new film technologies are expected to significantly enhance the power, safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries, thereby helping speed the adoption of these smaller and lighter batteries into the next wave of lower-emission vehicles.

This weekend, at the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS-23) in Anaheim, Calif., Exxon Mobil will unveil a super-thin plastic sheeting the company says can improve the power, safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries for use in automobiles.

Separator film is an integral part of battery system design and critical to overall performance. ExxonMobil Chemical’s new technology platform builds on twenty years experience in lithium-ion battery separators, applying advanced polymer and process technologies with flexibility to tailor products to battery manufacturer requirements.

Exxon Mobil considers the film a breakthrough because it allows battery makers to build smaller and cheaper battery systems — removing key obstacles that have kept automakers from building hybrid and electric vehicles on a wide scale. Porosity is one of the key parameters in building higher performance separators and Tonen has developed a prototype film with a 51% porosity compared to 37% in current production batteries while maintaining the same strength and thermal integrity.

Exxon Mobil developed its film with Japanese affiliate Tonen Chemical (see this earlier press release that discloses that Tonen has been manufacturing films for small Li-ion batteries since 1991). Invented in research labs at Exxon Mobil's Baytown complex, the film is the first to squeeze multiple layers of plastic into a single white sheet the width (thickness?) of a human hair.

Tonen and Exxon are exploring the possibility of building a new production facility for the new generation of films in Gumi, Korea.

More here, here, here and here   

Material for this post is based on an article in The Houston Chronicle and various ExxonMobil publications.

Comments

[Gregor]

This sounds like another good step towards an alternate energy system.

I have one question with all of these inventions. If we run out of oil, how will we make the plastics etc. that all these ideas are made with if we have no oil? Or is there some other synthetic material that can be used?

[Mike]

"I have one question with all of these inventions. If we run out of oil, how will we make the plastics etc. that all these ideas are made with if we have no oil?"

Please tell me you're not serious.

[Gregor]

No Mike I'm not serious, I always ask questions that I have the answers to....

If I was a smart as you I wouldn't have to ask any questions.

[Mike]

Greg

First of all, we are not going to run out of oil. It will just become more expensive and we will move to alternatives. Secondly, the amount of oil used to make plastics is a small fraction of the amount used for fuel. Finally, plastics can be made from oil produced from biomass. If your question was legitimate, then I apologize for being insulting.

[Anonymous Hollywood blacklist dodger]

Gregor:

You read this blog... Right?!?!

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2007/11/new-uk-heavy-oi.html

Wake up and smell the hydrocarbons.

[Paul H.]

I remember the thin film battery breakthrough that Popular Science wrote about in the mid 90's. I marked it in my mind. They said it would lead to electric cars with much improved range. The 'idea' was given to a canadian film company (I'm not sure what type of film exactly). It then fell off the face of the earth. Now this re-emerges, and ExxonMobile's name is all over it. Did they shut down the research in the direction of cars until now? Does anyone remember the Popular Science article?

[doojsdad]

If you look at the advantages and disadvantages listed on the Li-ion wikipedia page, it makes me wonder if this is really worth it. They are going to have to improve it *a lot*.

[run your car on water]

will this be a good thing or not.