DATE : 2014-06-27
Boulder Ionics Corp (BI) is developing a new class of ionic liquid-based electrolytes for batteries and ultracapacitors. The fully automated technology uses microchannel and thin-film reactors to integrate individual processes like alkylation, metathesis, separation, purification and drying. This reduces the cost of ionic liquids from nearly $1700/kg to less than $75/kg and enables production rate to reach as high as 20 tonnes/y. The solvent-free technology cuts synthesis time from days to only 20 minutes, while eliminating the risk of runaway reactions caused by local hotspots through the use of heat-removing flow channels. BI's LiFSI technology, a patented process for synthesizing the acidic form of bis(fluorosulfonyl)-imide (FSI), displays greater stability and conductivity than the standard lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) salt.
SOURCE Icis News