Silver/Metal Hydride Batteries for Communication Buoys Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-081 Topic Title: Silver/Metal Hydride Batteries for Communication Buoys Proposal No.: N051-081-0895 Firm: Rechargeable Battery Corporation 809 University Drive East Suite 100E College Station, Texas 77840-1431 Contact: Ramesh Kainthla Phone: (979) 260-1120 Web Site: www.rbctx.com Abstract: The US Navy requires a rechargeable direct current power source for communication buoys with five times the power capacity of current technology. RBC proposes to develop and demonstrate silver/metal hydride electrochemistry in sealed, wound cylindrical cells, as a technology that can meet the critical performance targets. The objective of the Phase I SBIR program is to design an electric power storage battery based on cylindrical silver/MH cells to meet the electrical requirements of the submarine launched device. The new design will be compared with existing technologies. RBC will build laboratory cells and carry out development to establish a fully functional silver/metal hydride electrochemistry. A particular requirement is a viable barrier to block silver ion migration between the silver cathode and the metal hydride anode, which RBC has shown to be the major cause of cell failure. The technical solution may involve a combination of electrolyte additives and selection of a stable separator system. Charge retention, rechargeability, safety, environmental and cost criteria will be considered. Spiral wound silver/metal hydride cells will be designed and built to validate energy and power capability. In the proposed effort RBC will work with two subcontractors, The University of Texas at Austin and Moltech Power Systems. Benefits: The products that will be developed from the proposed SBIR project are high power, sealed cylindrical silver/metal hydride cells and batteries. This novel electrochemical technology offers a potentially unique combination of power and energy, over a wide range of operating temperatures, in convenient conventional packaging that may be used as building blocks for higher voltage/capacity battery packs. This technology would advance environmentally-friendly, renewable energy technologies and have dual use application in premium electronic equipment requiring a lightweight, high-capacity battery. Potential applications include: portable communications, military devices, portable medical equipment, satellites, or advanced electric or hybrid automobile engines. Return