Seferos, Dwight (University of Toronto)

Purpose

Flexible, rechargeable batteries are needed for emerging electronics markets such as wearables that will reach >20B$ over the next 2-5 years. We have invented a new polymer that functions as a flexible cathode in lithium-ion batteries. It is a highly attractive material for flexible battery cathodes because it provides a high capacity (25 mAh g-1) with high voltage (2.5 V) in a prototype lithium ion battery. With the assistance of the University of Toronto's Innovations and Partnerships Office, we have filed a US provisional patent application on this invention, its composition, method of manufacturing, and use (62/290,228; filed February 2nd, 2016). The polymer affords the opportunity to design flexible electrodes and batteries. Here we propose to further develop the technology to improve performance and incorporate this material into a flexible thin-film battery architecture. Specifically, the goals of this project will include: (1) the development of a flexible thin-film battery prototype; (2) improvement of the polyflavin material performance; (3) scaled-up manufacturing of the polyflavin material; and (4) demonstration of the minimum viable product with validated performance and mechanical properties. The most likely route towards commercialization is through creating a start-up company that will manufacture flexible thin-film batteries based on this technology. _x000D_