SBIR-STTR Award

The Li/CuCl2/ inorganic electrolyte system can presently deliver 266 W/kg and 181 Whr/kg for continuous discharge at up to 10 MA/CM2 for over 200 deep cycles. Such performance is unmatched by any other known rechargeable battery system.This project will evaluate the performance of Li/CUC12 cells with : 0.38mm thick CUC12 electrodes at 10.0 mA/CM2 which would provide 20 minutes or more of operation above 2.50 V at 9.0 Amps in a spiral wound D size cell designed specifically for the Navy robotics technology application. The approach in Phase I will be to evaluate the performance of Li/cUC12 cells with 0.3810.10 mm thick CUC12 electrodes in both laboratory cells and prismatic D size cells with 2.7 x 4.0 CM CUC12 electrodes in hermetically welded steel cases. To improve the safety of the system, oxidation resistant shutdown separators to prevent thermal runaway and venting of cells caused by electrical or mechanical abuse will be prepared and tested above 800C. The recent identification of new thermal fuse materials by LEA, Inc. will permit the preparation of such shutdown separators for the first time. The performance of the high rate CUC12 electrodes will be enhanced by preparing CUC12 with high electronic conductivities using several innovative techniques and by improved CUC12 electrode fabrication processes.

Keywords:
Rechargeable Battery Lithium Battery Secondary Battery Lithium High Power Battery

This project will involve the development of wound D size Li/CuCl2/ inorganic electrolyte cells of delivering 5.6 Ahr at a current of 4.8 A, corresponding to 177 Whr/kg. The Above cells would increase the operating time for a defined robotics mission by 245% compared to Ni/Cd cells. The Li/CuCl2/ system can presently deliver 266 Whr/kg and 181 Whr/kg for continuous discharge at up to 10 mA/cm2 for over 200 such deep cycles. Such performance is unmatched by any other known rechargeable battery system. The approach in Phase II will be to fabricate and cycle test wound D size Li/CuCl2 cells with 4.7 x 72.0 cm CuCl2 electrodes starting with a design developed during Phase I and building 20 to 40 or more wound D cells to improve the design. R&D will be carried out to optimize the performance and increase the size of the oxidation resistant shutdown separators invented during Phase I. Research to develop new positive electrode materials and electrolytes to increase the specific energy of the D size cells to 349 Whr/kg will be undertaken. Work to develop new technology to increase the reliability and safety of the cells will also be performed that will include investigation of new cosolvents, Li cycling efficiency and software for smart chargers.

Keywords:
Rechargable Battery Lithium Battery Secondary Battery Lithium High Power Battery Non-Aqueous Ba