# Request for Information (RFI) – Industrial Chemistry and Process Innovations to Enable Continuous, Waste-Free, Domestic Manufacture of Critical Battery Cathode Active Materials

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/de-foa-0003386-request-for-information-rfi-industrial-chemistry-and-process/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/354831

> Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy offered grants to any type of organization. Applications closed on July 10, 2024.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | DE-FOA-0003386 |
| Agency | Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | July 10, 2024 |
| Award ceiling | not stated |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 81.135 |

## Who can apply

- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not seeking applications for financial assistance. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITTUE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

## What the grant funds

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit input for a potential ARPA-E program focused on leveraging material, process, equipment, and cross-supply chain manufacturing innovations to catalyze domestic production of cathode active materials (CAMs) and their precursors (pCAMs). Most commercial lithium-ion batteries employ graphite anodes and layered transition metal oxide cathodes. CAMs can account for approximately 50% of total battery cost, while CAM chemistry determines overall battery performance and safety.5 To date, commercial cell-level energy densities exceeding 280 watt-hour per kilogram (Wh/kg) are achievable in batteries where NMC is used as the CAM in combination with a graphite anode.6 Recent optimization efforts have focused on innovations in chemistry to decrease cobalt content and increase nickel content thus simultaneously increasing energy density and reducing cost. Moreover, significant government and private sector research funding has been allocated to develop alternative lithium-based battery chemistries. Thus far, LFP is the most commercially successful nickel-free and cobalt-free cathode to be developed with notable attributes in cost, safety, and cycle life. Recent gains in market share suggest that LFP batteries may become the dominant chemistry for compact, economy EVs, while NMC is likely to continue to be the preferred cathode chemistry for vehicles where torque response and range are priorities. To view the RFI in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

## Questions people ask

### Is DE-FOA-0003386 still open?

No. It closed on July 10, 2024. A newer notice is open: DE-FOA-0003630, closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left).

### Who can apply for Request for Information (RFI) – Industrial Chemistry and Process Innovations to Enable Continuous, Waste-Free, Domestic Manufacture of Critical Battery Cathode Active Materials?

Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy accepted applications from any type of organization. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Request for Information (RFI) – Industrial Chemistry and Process Innovations to Enable Continuous, Waste-Free, Domestic Manufacture of Critical Battery Cathode Active Materials?

Closed July 10, 2024. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### Who has won Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were RTX Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC. The program made 729 awards worth $1.4 billion in that time.