High Energy Density Solid State Li-Ion Battery with Enhanced Safety

We propose to develop an all solid state Li-ion battery which is capable of delivering high energy density, combined with high safety over a wide operating temperature range. The proposed effort builds upon an in-house developed inorganic solid electrolyte that has demonstrated high ionic conductivity at room temperature (1.5x10-2 S/cm). The primary objective of the Phase I program is to demonstrate that the recently invented solid electrolyte can be formulated into a useable form in a practical Li-ion battery, and that traditional challenges associated with the use of a solid electrolyte can be overcome. A key innovation is the use of a unique composite morphology for the solid electrolyte, wherein passive components, such as the binder and separator, are replaced by an active conductive electrolyte network. The proposed new solid electrolyte will fully eliminate the flammability issues of conventional Li-ion batteries, thereby leading to a safer device with high thermal and mechanical stability. The target energy density for the proposed solid electrolyte based Li-ion cell at the cell level are: greater than 500Wh/kg (gravimetric) and 2700 Wh/l (volumetric), while maintaining 80% of initial capacity after 500 cycles under full depth of discharge. The Phase I effort entails fabrication of the proposed composite solid electrolyte, and cell level testing with a suitably modified cathode and anode. A successful Phase I program will lay the foundation for prototype cell and cell-pack demonstration in Phase II, where Li-ion cells will be designed, assembled, and tested to meet the requirements of NASA for safety, cycle life and energy density. Prototype cells will be delivered to NASA at the end of the Phase II program.

Safe and reliable high energy density storage devices with wide temperature of operation are required for Altair-lunar lander, extravehicular activities (EVA space suites), rovers for missions to outer planet, moon and asteroids, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and International X-ray Observatory (IXO). With the proposed solid electrolyte material, a highly stable and safe Li-ion battery can be developed that meets NASA's high energy density (greater than 500 Wh/kg, C/10) requirements at operating temperature of T=0 to 100 degrees centigrade.

The non-NASA applications include laptops, mobile phones, PDAs, portable TVs, radios, camcorders, electric razors, digital cameras, energy storage for renewable power generation (e.g., solar panels and wind turbines), electric bikes, automotives, and a wide range of military and aerospace applications such as power for sensors, and army soldier conformal batteries.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.