Honda gift expands Nanotech West Lab’s energy R&D capabilites

mhuson General

A recently installed glovebox procured with a gift from Honda Development & Manufacturing of America LLC has expanded the electrochemical energy storage and conversion research capabilities in the Energy Innovation Lab (EIL) at Nanotech West Laboratory, on Ohio State’s West Campus.

 

The EIL spaces on West Campus serve as IMR’s core energy multi-user facility and R&D center that are open to internal and external users on a fee basis to support research, development and education.

 

The new glovebox joins two three-station gloveboxes already in use in the lab for various battery fabrication processes, such as crimping and decrimping coin-cell batteries and assembling pouch cells for battery modules. Gloveboxes like these can be integral tools for researchers handling air-sensitive chemicals and devices, such as cells comprising metals and battery components.

 

The LC-1 glovebox system, by LC Technology Solutions, is a full-size, stand-alone glovebox with six gloves, lighting, antechamber, and solvent purification system. With the aid of its gas purification system, the system can achieve and maintain an inert gas environment less than 1 part per million H₂O and O₂ that is required in battery fabrication.

 

The increased coin and pouch cell fabrication capabilities in EIL are complemented by the lab’s electrode materials preparation instruments, electrode fabrication machines, and tools for battery testing and analysis.

 

“Multiple battery projects are ongoing in the Energy Innovation Lab. While operating experiments in glovebox for various types of batteries, chemical cross-contaminations become big concerns. The new glovebox not only increases environmental control space in EIL, but also expands the battery research capabilities in the lab. This control is very beneficial for EIL to explore new chemistry for next-generation batteries,” said Qingmin Xu, a senior research scientist at Nanotech West Lab who manages EIL operations. “We greatly appreciated the kind support of Honda.”

 

The extent of the Energy Innovation Lab’s technology development spans from materials to systems and advanced manufacturing. Faculty, staff and students in the lab are dedicated to defining and solving current issues on electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, as well as innovating the materials and systems to develop future energy technologies.

 

Story by Mike Huson, IMR communications coordinator.

Contact: huson.4@osu.edu

Follow: @OhioStateIMR