NASA EPSCoR R3 Appendix G (ARMD): Composite Solid Electrolytes for High Safety Lithium Metal Batteries

Kentucky’s NASA EPSCoR jurisdiction solicited proposals from university-led research teams in Kentucky to address NASA research needs listed as tasks for the FY2021 NASA EPSCoR Rapid Response Research (R3) announcement (NNH21ZHA002C). The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR program collaborated with responding faculty researchers to develop and submit relevant proposals that address R3 task objectives.

The proposed work is in response to R3 Appendix G (ARMD) related to Electric Aircraft Batteries & Crash Safety. Batteries for electric aircraft are required to meet five key properties: safety, energy density, power, packaging design and scalability. Achieving high safety and energy density are challenging for state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries that contain flammable liquid electrolytes and graphite anode. In this work, we propose to develop inorganic-polymer composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) for solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) to achieve enhanced safety and increased energy density. The developed CSEs will combine the merits of high ionic conductivity of inorganic sulfides (lithium argyrodites) and flexibility/stability of polymer electrolytes. Using such CSEs, the fabricated solid-state Li metal batteries are able to achieve outstanding cycling performance on both energy density and C-rates. Solid-state Li metal batteries from this proposed work will advance the development of safe and powerful energy storage systems for electric aircrafts to meet NASA’s specific needs. In addition, this project will establish a sustainable collaboration between University of Louisville in Kentucky (an EPSCoR state) with NASA research centers (i.e. Glenn Research Center and Langley Research Center).

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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