Li-S Energy achieves increased energy density in pouch cell tests

Battery manufacturer Li-S Energy has announced that it has proved substantial improvement in energy density for its lithium sulfur battery technology in tests.

Li-S said on Monday that it had manufactured full-size 10Ah (amp-hour) semi-solid-state cells at its production facility, with the pouch cells using the company’s GEN3 cell chemistry (announced in April 2023.)

According to the company, these produced “an energy density of 498Wh/kg on first discharge, and an industry leading 456Wh/kg after formation cycling”.

CTO Steve Rowlands said “Reaching 456Wh/kg from 10Ah cells post formation places LIS at the global forefront of lithium sulfur performance.

Dr Lee Finniear, CEO of Li-S, claimed the result as “a significant breakthrough for the nascent lithium sulfur battery industry.” 

Li-S is pitching its technology – which originated from Deakin University in Geelong – to companies making drone, defence and electric aviation products, where the energy density might translate to improved range.

The first of the new cells were delivered to test partners last month for testing in battery packs and with Li-S’s proprietary battery management system.

The statement also included comment from Mark Xavier, CEO of the LiS’s Queensland-based partner V-TOL Aerospace, who congratulated the Geelong company a “significant milestone achievement that has exceeded our expectations and initial requirements for our joint development of the Pegasus uncrewed air system.”

Li-S was recently awarded a $1.7 million Industry Growth Program grant to support its “high-tolerance lithium foil battery manufacturing process to produce next generation, ultra-light batteries”.

The grant was announced to coincide with the opening of it Phase 3 automated pouch cell line (pictured), which Li-S says is the country’s largest pouch cell production facility, can scale up to gigawatt hour output, and allows the company “to rapidly iterate cell design, material optimisation and production processes at scale”

Li-S said it is continuing to develop its GEN3 chemistry. 

Picture: credit Li-S

Further reading

Li-S Energy battery for ‘dawn to dusk’ drone

Li-S Energy completes dry room for battery production

Li-S energy plans lithium sulphur battery production in Geelong

Three businesses from a single entrepreneurial company get federal grants

Industry Growth Program funds flow to commercialise technology