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Nanomaterials For Thermal Battery
Navy SBIR 2012.1 - Topic N121-035 NAVAIR - Ms. Donna Moore - [email protected] Opens: December 12, 2011 - Closes: January 11, 2012 N121-035 TITLE: Nanomaterials For Thermal Battery TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 263 OBJECTIVE: Develop a thermal battery by using nano-sized anode, cathode, separator, and heat pellet materials to improve battery power capabilities and compactness. DESCRIPTION: As missiles are required to travel greater distances, the thermal battery will need to supply a significantly higher level of power to the missile�s electronics, fuze, and actuation components. Yet, the battery will have to fit into a more compact volume, as the space inside a missile continues to decrease. Although current thermal batteries are made from materials in the micron-size range, no new net increase in performance has been achieved since their initial development during World War II. Nanomaterials potentially offer an opportunity to produce batteries similar to current technology, but with much improved performance characteristics, such as higher voltages and increased current densities. Applying nano-sized materials to as many of the battery components as possible would be a significant step in reducing battery size and increasing operating life and power density. For example, nanostructured cathodes used in thermal batteries have resulted in improved electrochemical performance. With the same weight as that of current pellets, these nanostructured cathode pellets are over 20 percent thinner than conventional pellets, react more rapidly and completely, and are more mechanically robust. Additionally, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) tested a new heat source for thermal batteries called NanoFoil that was developed by Reactive NanoTechnologies. This material showed significant promise; however, further work is necessary to improve material properties. In addition, using carbon-nanotube and silicon nanowires results in high-performance lithium batteries that may find application in thermal batteries. Battery with performance characteristics that are equal to or better than those available in current technology: current density >0.5 A/cm2 and current pulse >6 A/cm2 should be considered. The batteries will be tested in nonoperational and operational environments and undergo U.S. Navy safety testing. PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of using nano-sized materials for a thermal battery�s anode, cathode, electrolyte, and heat pellet. Test a single-cell battery with performance characteristics that are equal to or better than those available in current technology: current density >0.5 A/cm2 and current pulse >6 A/cm2 PHASE II: Develop full-size prototype battery with at least 30 V. Maintain performance characteristics of each cell. Fully document all fabrication, test processes, test data, and results. Demonstrate improvements in battery performance by testing a sample of batteries that meet performance requirements of an actual missile application. PHASE III: Transition developed technology to appropriate users and platforms. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Technology would benefit any Thermal Battery users. REFERENCES: 2. Chan, C., Peng, H., Liu, G., McIlwrath, K., Zhang, X. F., Huggins, R. A., & Cui, Y. (2008). High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires. Nature Nanotechnology 3, 31-35. 3. Ding, M., Krieger, F., Swank, J., Poret, J., McMullan, C., & Chen, G. Use of NanoFoil as a new heat source in thermal batteries. http://www.ndia-mich.org/workshop/Papers/Energy%20Storage/Ding%20-%20Use%20of%20NanoFoil%20as%20a%20New%20Heat%20Source%20in%20Thermal%20Batteries.pdf 4. Lee, S., Yabuuchi, N., Gallant, B. M., Chen, S., Kim, B., Hammond, P.T., & Shao-Horn, Y. (2010). High-power lithium batteries from functionalized carbon-nanotube electrodes. Nature Nanotechnology 5, 531�537. KEYWORDS: Thermal Battery, Nanomaterial, Cathode, Anode, Electrolyte, Pellet
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