SBIR-STTR Award

Unlike reserve batteries, ultracapacitors have a very high characteristic power density, roughly 10 to 100 times greater than reserve batteries, but have relatively low energy density, limiting their use as a standalone power solution for missile defense applications. However, when coupled with a reserve battery optimized to store the required energy for the mission, this hybrid battery-ultracapacitor (HBU) system will have optimized power and energy densities, enabling significant power source miniaturization and weight reduction without sacrificing runtime or power delivering capability. FastCAP proposes to develop an ultra-high power density and high voltage (3.5V) ultracapacitor capable of surviving over the wide temperature range of -60C to 200C, and exhibiting gravimetric and volumetric power density of 120kW/kg and 150kW/L, respectively. FastCAP will design and prototype a hybrid system comprised of the proposed ultracapacitor in parallel with a reserve battery showing at least 50% volume reduction compared to stand-alone reserve batteries meeting military requirements. The ultracapacitor will be a symmetric device comprised of vertically aligned carbon nanotube electrodes and a highly conductive ionic liquid gel electrolyte. The HBU prototype will be engineered to withstand high shock (70,000Gpeak) and vibration (60Grms) conditions. The HBU system will be assembled in a single optimized package.