Development of low-temperature high-voltage electrolytes for thermal batteries Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.1 Topic No.: N121-007 Topic Title: Development of low-temperature high-voltage electrolytes for thermal batteries Proposal No.: N121-007-1011 Firm: Boulder Ionics Corporation 18300 Highway 72, Suite 6 Arvada, Colorado 80007 Contact: Joseph Poshusta Phone: (303) 432-1400 Abstract: Thermal batteries serve as ultra-reliable electrical power sources in guided munitions, missile systems, and some emergency escape systems. These batteries have very long storage lifetimes, in excess of 20 years, due to an electrolyte that is solid and non-conductive to ions at ambient temperatures. The battery is active when the electrolyte is melted using a pyrotechnic device. Conventional electrolytes operate at high temperatures approaching 600 �C. This temperature represents a challenge to systems engineering as the run time of the battery is short from fast cooling and nearby components can overheat. Boulder Ionics, in a partnership with a leading thermal battery manufacturer, proposes to develop a new class of electrolyte that melts between 100 and 150 �C and has an electrochemical window of 5 V. These characteristics will increase the run time and energy capacity of thermal batteries enabling longer missions in a more compact package. Benefits: The new electrolyte developed in this program, if successful, will increase the performance of thermal batteries and is expected to enable new mission capabilities not served by today's technology. In addition to defense applications, the new thermal batteries might find use in civilian aerospace emergency systems. Broader non-military market applications include advanced electrolytes for high temperature batteries used in deep bore-hole sensor systems and high-performance, low-cost electrolytes for grid scale energy storage solutions. Return