Major Milestones
Fostering Taiwan’s Lithium Battery Industry and Technologies
When Taiwan became a major player in the global laptop sector in the 1990s, cell phones were also rapidly developing. Lithium batteries showed much potential since they were lightweight, thin, and small, which could meet the specification of laptops and cell phones. However, lithium battery materials and manufacturing technology were predominated by the US and Japan at that time. Thus, in 1993, ITRI began to develop battery cathode materials and electrolytes for lithium batteries. The results were subsequently transferred to several battery manufacturers, encouraging talent acquisition and Taiwan’s first wave of investments in lithium battery.
In the 2000s, ITRI found a way to break free from the restrictions placed by major manufacturer patents and began its own innovations. The Institute continued to develop lithium battery cathode materials with high stability and high capacity. It also leveraged nano-modification technology to develop STOBA®, a high-safety lithium battery material that can avoid high heat and potential explosion due to battery short-circuit. The technology was transferred to manufacturers at home and abroad. It helped them enter the supply chain of international brand lithium battery, stimulating the development of Taiwan’s battery industry. In 2008, ITRI joined hands with the major battery manufacturer Welldone Company to establish Welltech Energy, Taiwan’s first professional power battery energy management system company that later became the nation’s largest supplier of two-wheel vehicle battery modules.
Since 2010, ITRI has released a wide array of batteries, including the ChemSEI-Linker which has longer battery endurance and lifespan, the URABat that can fully recharge in one minute and facilitate the transformation and upgrading of Taiwan’s battery industry, the Networked Amide Epoxy Polymer Electrolyte (NAEPE) for Solid State Lithium-Ion Batteries which uses NAEPE materials to replace the highly flammable electrolyte and increase the safety of lithium batteries. ITRI also used decommissioned batteries to develop the RAIBA, a dynamic reconfigurable and regulatable battery array system, to encourage sustainable usage of resources and help industries create business opportunities of next-gen green energy.
ITRI developed cathode materials and electrolyte compound formulas that galvanized Taiwan’s lithium battery industry.
ITRI completed the lithium secondary battery that uses LiCoO2 as its electrode material. The following year ITRI facilitated companies such as Pacific Technology, Walsin Lihwa, and ADDA, to set up a production line with annual throughput of 80 million lithium-ion batteries.
ITRI developed LiMn2O4 lithium-ion battery technology which could replace lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries to reduce pollution.
ITRI developed the lithium manganese dioxide square battery with higher technical levels and transferred the technology to a Taiwanese company. This officially kicked off the era of lithium battery mass production in Taiwan.
ITRI developed Taiwan’s new-gen high polymer lithium battery, breaking free from the restrictions caused by US Bellcore’s patent on high polymer batteries.
ITRI developed highly stable and high-capacity lithium battery cathode materials. It used nano surface modification technology to overcome the high exothermic reaction of traditional high-capacity lithium battery cathode materials and increase the standby time of cell phones with color screens.
ITRI used power lithium battery technology and related patents to set up Welltech Energy company with Welldone Company. Welltech Energy is Taiwan’s first professional power battery energy management system company which later developed into the nation’s largest battery module supplier for light electric vehicles, electric scooters, and electric bikes.
ITRI’s high safety lithium battery STOBA can prevent the high heat and explosion caused by battery short-circuit and greatly increase the safety of lithium batteries. It won the R&D 100 Awards.
ITRI collaborated with Stanford University to develop URABat, a high-speed charging and discharging aluminum-ion battery. This is the world’s first aluminum battery that can stably charge and discharge electricity. It only requires one minute to recharge and the charge cycle reaches over 10 thousand times. It was awarded the R&D 100 Awards in 2016 and the Edison Awards in 2017.
ITRI developed the ChemSEI-Linker that has twice the endurance and a lifespan of ten years.
ITRI’s RAIBA dynamic reconfigurable and regulatable battery array system integrates storage systems of new and old battery modules to reduce ineffective energy in the battery system and extend its cycle life. It is used by Chroma ATE, Fortune Electric, and operators who run charging stations repurposed from gas stations. The technology won the R&D 100 Awards in 2019.
ITRI developed the Networked Amide Epoxy Polymer Electrolyte for Solid State Lithium-Ion Batteries, which overcame high energy lithium battery safety issues and significantly increased the energy density of battery module. It has been transferred to Chinese Petroleum Corporation, Formosa Plastics Group, Amita Technologies, and GUS Technology. The technology won the 2020 R&D 100 Awards.
