Ultra-Safe Electrolytes for High Energy Density Batteries for Lunar Exploration & Habitats

The state-of-the-art advanced rechargeable batteries used in the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) missions can only provide ~100 Wh/kg energy storage that is operated over the Martian day/night cycle that is much shorter in comparison (24 hours 40 minutes). The state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries operate safely over a small temperature range (-20 oC to 45 oC). Higher temperatures result in irreversible thermal damage to these batteries; while low temperatures result in significant performance loss and increased cell failure rates from dendrite formation. Department of Energy (DoE) roadmaps tend to address terrestrial requirements such as low cost, performance at -30 oC, and longer cycle life to achieve electrified cars that are as cheap as gasoline-fueled cars. This leaves a large mission space that needs to be addressed by NASA. In this project we plan to develop batteries that can address energy density limitations and operate over a wide range of temperatures without performance loss, or loss in battery safety, by screening for a very-high concentration electrolyte that can also serve as a thermal energy storage device. In collaboration with the electrochemistry group of JPL (experiments), this project will perform synergistic computations to identify SIS electrolytes that can stabilize a Li-metal anode and thus achieve ~500 Wh/kg energy densities. Properties obtained from the experiments and atomistic simulations will be used to simulate the full cell using multiphysics simulations. The computational results will be validated and improved with full cell experiments being performed at GRC while experiments performed at JPL will test the stability of SIS electrolytes against lithium metal and determine operating voltages. This work will screen non-flammable SIS electrolytes for high-voltage and for stability against lithium using atomistic simulations and validation from experiments at JPL and GRC. This effort is truly multi-center and -scale for rapid development of batteries for lunar missions.

SoA Li-ion rechargeable batteries used in MER missions have a capacity of 100 Wh/kg and can operate above -20C. Further, Mars day/night cycles are similar to earth cycles (24h, 40m) and do not need to operate for long durations without recharges. Mission estimates for habitats and EVA suits are >500 Wh/kg.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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