Zeta Energy Awarded US Department of Energy Grant for $4 million Project to Advance Higher-Performing, Domestic Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for Greater Range in EVs

HOUSTON, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta Energy Corp. was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicles Technology Office (VTO) for a $4 million project to advance and commercialize its high-capacity lithium-sulfur battery technology. The VTO program was created to accelerate the development of innovative, equitable and clean mobility solutions that extend electric vehicle (EV) range while alleviating supply chain concerns for EV batteries. One of the program's specific objectives is to further the development of long cycle life, high-energy density lithium sulfur batteries.

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Zeta Energy has developed a sulfurized carbon material that leverages the high energy density of sulfur, while preventing the "polysulfide shuttle" effect. Sulfur has long been of interest for batteries because its theoretical energy density is many times higher than that of traditional lithium-ion battery materials. Sulfur is also inexpensive and widely abundant, unlike most other materials typically found in the battery supply chain. Zeta Energy's lithium-sulfur batteries use no cobalt, manganese, nickel or graphite, and can be produced wholly with domestic materials. Lithium-sulfur batteries also have a significantly smaller CO2 footprint than other batteries and are less vulnerable to thermal runaway.

Despite these advantages of lithium-sulfur batteries, previous efforts to commercialize lithium-sulfur batteries were hindered by the "polysulfide shuttle effect" whereby sulfur leaches into the electrolyte, rapidly degrading the performance of the battery. Zeta Energy's sulfurized carbon technology effectively binds the sulfur during battery operation, preventing the polysulfide shuttle effect and enabling sulfur-based batteries to achieve more than one thousand cycles. Though Zeta Energy also has a proprietary 3D structured metallic lithium anode that further increases the performance, longevity and economy of its batteries, this project will demonstrate the use of Zeta Energy's sulfurized carbon cathode with a range of anodes that are already commercially available.

As stated by Tom Pilette, CEO of Zeta Energy, "We are honored and grateful to be working with the Department of Energy on this project to improve EV battery performance. Lithium-sulfur is a technology whose time has come – it will bring a step change in the performance, weight, cost, and environmental sustainability of batteries and the products that use them. This project will allow us to show how lithium-sulfur batteries can transform the EV industry and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness."

About Zeta Energy

Zeta Energy is a US-based privately held company focused on developing and commercializing high-performance, safe, rechargeable batteries that are lower cost and sustainably manufactured. Zeta Energy's batteries eliminate the use of critical materials such as graphite, cobalt, manganese and nickel. Zeta has an extensive patent portfolio, with over sixty patents and applications. Zeta has won prestigious awards for its proprietary carbon nanotube anode and sulfur cathode technology, including awards from ARPA-E and the World Materials Forum. The Company may from time to time disclose public material events via its website at http://www.ZetaEnergy.com.

SOURCE Zeta Energy