Leclanché and Saint-Gobain announce a joint development agreement to co-develop and market a new ceramic separator for lithium-ion cells

Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, June 10th, 2014 -

Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange: LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium-ion cells and energy storage solutions and the Saint-Gobain division specialized in the research, development, and manufacturing of high-performance material films, ceramics, slurries, and inorganic material, today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to co-develop a new ceramic separator for use in lithium-ion batteries, which if successful, will be used by Leclanché in its stationary product range and marketed by Saint-Gobain for use in other lithium-ion cells markets.

A joint collaboration to develop the next generation separator

Leclanché and Saint-Gobain have agreed to a collaboration program, which aims to develop a new separator material for use in lithium-ion batteries. Leclanché has already successfully developed and patented a proprietary ceramic separator that is manufactured by Leclanché in its factory in Willstaett, Germany, and that is currently incorporated in Leclanché’s lithium-ion titanate cells. The separator is a key element of the cell construction as it forms a strong barrier between the anode and cathode materials, the two main active components of a cell. The ceramic structure of the separator developed by Leclanché is a key safety feature of its lithium-ion titanate cells.

Under the collaboration agreement, Leclanché will outsource the manufacture of the existing separator to Saint-Gobain followed by the co-development of an enhanced separator material leveraging Leclanché’s technology and Saint-Gobain’s strong technology platform in polymers and inorganic grains and powders. The objective is to create a new separator with performance advantages.

Pierre Blanc, Leclanché’s Chief Technical Officer commented: “I am delighted that we have concluded this joint development agreement with Saint-Gobain, whose depth and breadth of experience and capability in polymers and fluoropolymers is world class. Through this program we aim to develop the next generation separator, consistent with our product road map to reduce costs and enhance cell performance without compromising safety.”

Phil Guy, Saint-Gobain’s Business Manager, Performance Plastics, Tapes commented: “We are very pleased to be working with Leclanché in providing efficient battery systems for storage of alternative energy sources of energy such as Solar and Wind. Further, the safety of these systems are paramount in their design and we are proud to be working on separator solutions that will improve the efficiency of the system while providing ‘peace of mind’ to users of these systems. Together, we can help enable a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.”