Nuvvon, a provider of next-generation battery materials, has announced a major safety milestone. The company’s proprietary solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technology has successfully passed a series of independent nail penetration tests using both Graphite-NMC811 and Lithium-NMC9 chemistries.
Nail tests intentionally short-circuit a cell to determine whether it ignites or explodes, a key indicator of safety for high-energy battery applications, including for electric vehicles (EVs).
Nail penetration test results showing the performance of the cell containing the liquid electrolyte. (Image: Nuvvon)
The tests were conducted at The University of Texas at Austin (UTA) using traditional 1 Ah commercial-grade cells built with either Nuvvon’s SPE or a conventional liquid electrolyte. The liquid-electrolyte cell exploded instantly, while neither of Nuvvon’s SPE cells ignited.
“This is a major accomplishment for Nuvvon,” said Jonathan Lex, COO at Nuvvon. “Battery safety is a key concern for our partners and customers, and we’re pleased to validate the inherent safety of our technology through independent testing. This represents an important step toward commercialization.”
Nail penetration test results showing the performance of the cell containing Nuvvon’s solid polymer electrolyte. (Image: Nuvvon)
Nuvvon’s solid polymer electrolyte is a pure polymer system with no sulfide or oxide nanoparticles. It delivers room-temperature ionic conductivity greater than 1 mS/cm at 25° C, enables separator thicknesses of ≤ 20 µm, and serves as catholyte, anolyte, and separator within the cell. The material is produced from readily available, low-cost feedstocks and can be integrated into existing Li-ion manufacturing processes.
With its combination of safety, manufacturability, and performance, Nuvvon’s SPE technology is well-suited for demanding applications, such as EVs, aerospace, UAVs, and electronics.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News