In my research about Borate, I came across a recent Tesla patent lodged last year or so. It's patent regards adding Borate to their battery formula.
Our borate mine is not far from their factory in California. I just found this very interesting...
Imagine in the future if ABR could supply Boarate to Tesla.
Just a thought.
Tesla has applied for a patent on new electrolyte solutions for a new lithium metal or anode-free battery cell.
Tesla team patenting an “anode-free lithium-metal cell” for Tesla that they suggested could be the next big thing in battery tech instead of solid-state batteries.
They are still working on the new cells as evidenced by a new patent application Dahn’s team for Tesla’s Canadian research group:
“Electrolytes with Lithium Difluoro(oxalato)borate and Lithium Tetrafluoroborate Salts for Lithium-metal and Anode-Free Battery Cells.”
Tesla writes about the current problems with lithium-metal batteries in the patent application:
“Rechargeable batteries are an integral component of energy-storage systems for electric vehicles and for grid storage (for example, for backup power during a power outage, as part of a microgrid and so forth.). Some such rechargeable battery systems include lithium metal and anode-free lithium batteries. Lithium metal and anode-free lithium batteries have certain advantages over traditional lithium ion batteries, as they are more energy dense.
Anode-free cells are also less expensive and easier to assemble due to their lack of anode coating. However, challenges with lithium metal and anode-free lithium batteries have prevented their wide spread adoption. Improving certain characteristics of lithium metal and anode-free battery systems will allow for more widespread use of such systems. For instance, developing electrolyte compositions that allow for commercially acceptable cycling performance of lithium metal and anode-free lithium batteries is critical to gaining adoption of such battery systems.
Until the present disclosure, the general consensus in the industry is that an electrolyte with lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (“LiDFOB”) salt alone best increases the capacity retention of lithium metal and anode-free lithium cells.
In short, it offers great advantages when it comes to energy density and costs, but it needs improvements when it comes to longevity.
Dahn’s team claims that its new electrolyte would help improve just that:
Provided are electrolyte solutions including both lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate and lithium tetrafluoroborate and a solvent component for use in lithium metal or anode-free rechargeable battery cell and methods of using the electrolyte solutions to improve capacity retention of the battery cells.
Also provided are rechargeable battery systems including a lithium metal or anode-free battery cell and electrolyte solutions including both lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate and lithium tetrafluoroborate and a solvent component. The systems described herein exhibit improved capacity retention.
In my research about Borate, I came across a recent Tesla patent...
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