SBIR Phase II: Metal Foils for High Energy Density, Low-cost, Lithium-ion Batteries

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $1,230,631 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of base-metal alloy foils as a cost-effective, lightweight replacement for copper current collectors in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Copper is currently the third most expensive and third heaviest component in LIBs, costing battery manufacturers over $7 billion annually. By replacing copper with these innovative foils, the project targets a long-term material cost reduction of over 50%, saving more than $3 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and improving gravimetric energy density by over 5%. With LIB pack prices at approximately $107/kWh and batteries accounting for 40% of electric vehicle (EV) production costs, this innovation supports the national goal of reducing battery prices to $50–$75/kWh to achieve cost parity with internal combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, the project addresses critical supply chain vulnerabilities by offering a domestically produced alternative to copper foil, which is almost exclusively manufactured in Asia. By supporting domestic manufacturing, this project helps strengthen the U.S. battery supply chain, promote job creation, and reduce reliance on critical materials facing projected shortages, such as copper, while enabling global competitiveness for U.S.-based energy technology solutions. The intellectual merit of this project lies in the novel development and application of base-metal alloys that are electrochemically stable aga

Key facts

NSF award ID
2437742
Awardee
KHEMIA METALS INC (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
JNJQHFZ3GA79
PI
Helen K Bergstrom
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Energy Storage or Transmission
Estimated total
$1,230,631
Funds obligated
$1,230,631
Transaction type
Cooperative Agreement
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027