Vol.1 No.4 2009

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Research paper−221 Synthesiology - English edition Vol.1 No.4 (2009) charge transfer rate increases dramatically in nanocrystal where the diffusion length of ions becomes extremely short, the possibility of designing high-speed charge-discharge battery has been theorized. The Author’s research team applied advanced nanotechnology process and fabricated electrodes with nanocrystal and nanoporous structures that could not be made with conventional material science, and showed that high output property that far surpassed conventional performance could be achieved under laboratory conditions. Therefore, we decided to investigate whether these new material design concepts could be used as power source of next-generation HEV in industry-academia-government collaboration project, with involvement of battery and automobile manufacturers. In this paper, the efficacy of nanotechnology for innovations in the field of energy storage will be discussed, and the efficacy of vertical collaboration project of industry-academia-government for swift commercialization of innovation will be addressed, as well as introducing the actual results of the technological development.2 Development of innovative battery technology through fusion of nanotechnology and energy technologyFigure 1 is the Ragone plot of performances of lithium secondary batteries that have been realized dramatically in recent years, and examples of innovative energy devices and products. Currently they are put to practical use in cell phones and laptop computers. These devices use small low-capacity lithium battery and do not require high output density. Recently, middle-sizing and higher power for lithium battery became possible, and the batteries are used as power source for electric bicycles and power tools. The frontline 1 Background of researchJapan and other advanced nations are faced with two major energy crises today. One is structural energy limitation due to rapid increase of energy demand from BRIC countries and fierce international competition over procurement of resource for third world economic growth. Second is decrease in food production due to dramatic changes in atmospheric environment caused by global warming, as well as increased risk to sustainable biosphere due to reduction of space suitable for human survival, caused by increased abnormal climate. Japan, which is a resource-poor country, suffers from uncertainty factor of energy supply that is the foundation of nation’s economic development, and innovations in energy technology is the most important issue for ensuring national energy security.High-power lithium secondary battery is highly effective against global warming, and it is expected to accelerate the market entry of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) that may raise industrial competitiveness. Fierce competition is taking place throughout the world for its development. The desired high output performance of battery cannot be achieved with conventional material technology, and innovations in battery technology have been awaited. With the background of recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology, there is great interest in development of high-power high-capacity electrode material based on fine nanostructure control of electrochemical active materials.The Author became interested in innovative active materials based on state-of-art nanotechnology, and worked on the development of high-speed charge-discharge electrode. Since - The convergence innovation strategy employing the inter-disciplinary research and inter-organization straightforward technology transfer-Itaru HonmaEnergy Technology Research Institute, AIST Umezono 1-1-1, Tsukuba 305-8568, Japan E-mail : The development of high power and high capacity lithium secondary battery has been executed in a new strategic innovation scheme. This paper reports the significance of adopting the idea of interdisciplinary research to straightforward technology transfer from university, through AIST and battery company down to automobile company. A joint project of these organizations covering the upper stream science (at a university) and the down stream battery products (at a company) has been found a good scheme for rapid R&D when the university or AIST has innovative seeds. AIST has superiority in producing new technological seeds because of the interdisciplinary research between energy and nanotechnology as well as a wide spectrum of research fields covered by the institute. In this paper, an application of nanocrystalline electrode materials to high power battery is reported where the technology was successfully transferred to the commercial development of superior battery products.Development of high power and high capacity lithium secondary battery based on the advanced nanotechnologyKeywords : Lithium secondary battery, nanocrystal, high capacity and high power electrode, plug-in hybrid car, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)[Translation from Synthesiology, Vol.1, No.4, p.247-258 (2008)](1)−

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