Gelion Produces Solid-State Separator suitable for Li-S and Li-NMC batteries via Oxford University’s Breakthrough Technology

Gelion (AIM: GELN), the Anglo-Australian battery innovator, announces it has successfully fabricated advanced sulfide-based solid-state separators utilising the novel Intellectual Property (IP) licensed from Oxford University Innovation Limited (Oxford University). This result enables Gelion to proceed to the next stage of optimisation for this separator which has the potential to not just increase the cycle life of existing lithium metal batteries but also for Gelion’s high energy density GEN 3 lithium-sulfur (LiS) cells.

Solid Electrolyte Separators (SES) are recognised as a key enabler to long duration high energy lithium metal batteries due to their potential to increase safety, cycle life and energy density of battery technologies in which they are employed. Their implementation has been hampered due to challenges in their processability and manufacture and this successful fabrication is an important step to solving these challenges.

Significantly, these advancements:

• introduces another potential revenue stream by way of licensing to Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (Li-NMC) battery manufacturers, when optimised to enable scaled production of the SES;
• facilitate the incorporation of SES into liquid-based Li-metal (e.g., Li-NMC and Lithium-air (Li-air) battery technologies), Li-S and solid-state Li-ion/Li-S cell assembly;
• relax the operational requirements (i.e. external pressure and temperature) of solid-state batteries that comprise this SES technology making this technology more viable for commercialisation.

OXLiD Ltd (OXLiD), a subsidiary of Gelion plc, has successfully fabricated a lightweight, ultra-thin, scalable and highly flexible SES, validating Oxford University’s IP and paving the way for high energy and long cycle life batteries for Aerospace and Automotive applications. The work was undertaken as part of its grant funded activities whilst part of the wave 7 cohort of the Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP), via the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), funded by the Department for Business and Trade. OXLiD is further developing the novel sulfide-based SES and its pathway to commercial manufacture which we anticipate will translate to simplified cell level manufacture and subsequent cost reduction.

This development directly ties into the Group’s mission to provide global energy storage solutions that are robust, safe and affordable with low environmental impact, enabling the supply of clean power for all. Testing of the GEN3 Li-S battery with this OXLiD developed SES will begin soon.