Solid-State Rechargeable Batteries for Extreme Lunar Surface Environments

Future science missions to the Lunar surface and other planets and their moons will require advanced secondary battery systems that can operate at extreme temperatures. Advancements that address battery operation at extreme temperatures, combined with high specific energy and energy density, are critically needed. Conventional rechargeable Li-ion cells operate within a narrow temperature range of -20 to 40 C, and they suffer from capacity loss at lower temperatures. Improved batteries that minimize the need for strict thermal management, which adds to the mass of the spacecraft, are critically needed. The solution to making rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that operate in extreme temperature environments is to develop a solid electrolyte that does not suffer from poor solid-solid lithium conductivity. New materials and methods for tailoring these solid-solid interfaces are also needed. It is also critical to combine this modified solid electrolyte with high voltage cathodes and stable anodes to produce the high energy density batteries that NASA needs. In this project TDA Research will develop solid electrolytes and surface modified electrodes that combine to make high voltage lithium rechargeable batteries suitable for the Lunar environment. Future science missions to the Lunar surface will require advanced secondary battery systems that can operate at extreme temperatures. Conventional rechargeable Li-ion cells operate within a narrow temperature range of -20 to 40 ºC and also suffer from capacity loss at lower temperatures. There is currently a technology gap that exists for cells that can maintain performance at extreme temperatures and minimize the need for strict thermal management of the batteries.   The solution is to develop a solid electrolyte that does not suffer from poor solid-solid lithium conductivity. It is also critical to combine this modified solid electrolyte with high voltage cathodes and stable anodes for high energy density batteries. In this project TDA Research will develop solid electrolytes and surface modified electrodes that combine to make high voltage lithium rechargeable batteries suitable for the Lunar environment. The specific technical challenge we are proposing to solve is the need for a secondary battery system capable of operating at temperature extremes for Lunar or planetary missions. Battery requirements vary based on the destination, but Lunar missions would experience -230 to +120 ºC. The goal is to either minimize or eliminate the need for thermal management of high energy density (>250Wh/kg, >500 Wh/L) batteries. We are developing a new solid-state secondary lithium battery that is based on our new highly stable and highly conductive polymer electrolyte that will solve the problem of poor solid-state battery performance. In Phase I the new battery was be able to survive temperatures up to 100 ºC and also function acceptably down to -60 ºC. There are 6 Phase II technical objectives:   TO-1  Optimize nanoporous polymer precursors and methods to use them as artificial CEIs, artificial SEIs and solid-state separators in all-solid batteries. TO-2  Perform EIS and characterization on individual the individual cell components produced in Task 1 TO-3  Using optimized components, prepare 3.8-volt lithium ion solid-state battery coin cells and use them for charge/discharge cycling studies. TO-4  Prepare 1 Ah pouch cells for evaluation and testing TO-5  Send coin cells to major battery manufacturer for 3rd party validation TO-6  Deliver prototype battery cell to NASA

The targeted NASA application is for energy storage (batteries) that do not require excessive thermal management on the Lunar surface. NASA has specifically identified this need, and it is the primary target application. Similarly, extreme temperature tolerant batteries would serve NASA for additional missions (Mars, Titan, etc.). There is an immense dual-use commercial market for solid-state batteries on Earth. Electric vehicles, electric aircraft and numerous other energy storage applications would greatly benefit from being able to work below -40 ºC, and safety would be greatly enhanced by solid-electrolyte batteries that were not flammable and could survive temperatures above 100 ºC (for example, vehicle fires).

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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