Multifunctional Electrolytes for Abuse-Tolerant 5V Li-Ion Space Batteries

This SBIR Phase I project will develop a multifunctional electrolyte for high energy density abuse-tolerant lithium ion batteries with 5 V cathodes such as LiCoPO4. The multifunctional electrolyte comprises of a non-flammable ionic liquid as solvent and a porous ionomer membrane which serve as both separator and lithium cation source. No additional lithium salt such as LiPF6 or LiTFSi is required. The ionic liquid and the ionomer are electrochemically stable at 5 V vs Li/Li+ for many charge-discharge cycles, therefore will enable a lithium ion battery with high voltage and high energy density. The ionomer is a high temperature polymer with anions chemically bonded to the polymer chain. With a super-CO2 facilitated processing technology, porous membrane can be formed with the ionomer with interconnected pores (~50% porosity and pore size of 0.3 ~0.6um). In addition, the porous ionomer membrane has high mechanical modulus and strength and high thermal stability >150 degree Celsius. The high energy density abuse-tolerant lithium ion battery will be enabled by combining: 1. high voltage 5 V cathode; 2. abuse-tolerant cathode that fail mildly; 3. high voltage electrolyte with cycling stability; 4. Superior ionic conductivity ~ 1 mS/cm at -20 degree C; 5. non-flammable electrolyte with ionic liquid; and 6. mechanically and thermally stable porous ionomer membrane. The energy density can be further improved by using lithium metal anode.

Breakthrough battery cell technologies that far exceed the specific energy and energy density of current state-of-the-art lithium-ion cell technologies are required to achieve NASAs far-term energy storage goals for human and robotic missions. The high-voltage abuse-tolerant lithium ion batteries to be developed in this project will have the critical reliability, safety, high energy density, and long lifetime for mission critical NASA space applications.

The high energy density and abuse-tolerant lithium ion batteries have numerous applications in military, consumer electronics, energy industry, and transportation industry. Military applications include soldier power, auxiliary power such as in a silent watch application and energy storage for a microgrid. Commercial applications include personal electronics such as cellular phones, laptop computers, power tools and transportation in an electric, hybrid electric vehicle or in aviation.

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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