Asymmetric Supercapacitor for Long Duration Power Storage

When solar energy is used in aerospace applications, the necessary shadowed parts of the spatial orbit require energy storage for the craft/equipment to continue in operation. Batteries are used for the purpose currently, but with increasing power requirements, more efficient charge storage devices have to be developed. Energy storage technologies are expected to have improved energy density, speed, efficiency, or wide-temperature operation (-125oC to over 450oC) with a high cycling stability. Supercapacitors or ultra-capacitors are known to exhibit high capacity and power storage characteristics but they suffer from low energy density compared to rechargeable battery systems. Newly developed "asymmetric" capacitors are hybrid charge-storage devices in which a Faradaic, rechargeable battery-type electrode is combined with a non-Faradaic, electrochemical, double-layer type of electrode. It is possible to reach very high working voltage and high energy density by the right choice of electrode material. Materials Modification Inc. proposes to develop a novel nanocomposite material to function as the high-specific capacitance electrode in an asymmetric capacitor. Phase I will involve fabricating the electrode material and testing its electrochemical properties by standard means. Phase II will involve fine tuning the technology to fabricate actual supercapacitors for field testing.

Civilian applications will encompass those that currently use rechargeable batteries for operation.

The high energy asymmetric capacitors will find use in energy storage in applications such as Earth Orbiting, Venus, Europa, Titan and Lunar Quest missions that require long-standing power supply.

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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