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Preparation of All-Ceramic, High Performance Li-ion Batteries for Deep Space Power Systems

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNJ05JB84C
Agency Tracking Number: 041630
Amount: $69,996.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: S4.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-01-21
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-07-25
Small Business Information
3921 Academy Parkway North, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109-4416
United States
DUNS: 055145320
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Tuqiang Chen
 Principal Investigator
 (505) 342-4449
 tchen@tplinc.com
Business Contact
 H.M. H.M. Stoller
Title: President & CEO
Phone: (505) 342-4412
Email: hstoller@tplinc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Lithium (Li) ion batteries are among the most promising power sources for many civilian, military and space applications due to their high power and high energy densities. However, current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries are not suited for operation in deep-space environments including high radiation and an extremely wide operation temperature regime (-100˚C to 400˚C), due to utilization of thermally and electrochemically unstable organic electrolytes.
TPL proposes to develop an all-ceramic, high performance Li-ion battery for deep-space power systems via a novel cell configuration, micro-fiber cells (MFCs), that ensures successful utilization of ceramic materials for all battery components. The superior properties of the proposed MFC-based Li-ion batteries will be achieved via formation and processing of functional graphite fibers that facilitate interfacial contacts and practical utilization of ceramic electrolytes.
In Phase I, TPL will fabricate the proposed MFCs via a solution approach and process the MFCs into rechargeable batteries having a wide operation temperature window, excellent radiation resistance, and a high specific energy. The functional fibers will be structurally characterized and MFC-based batteries will be electrochemically evaluated in the temperature regime. The concept of MFCs will be demonstrated. TPL has extensive experience in Li-ion battery chemistries and technologies. TPL's technical and management teams are well positioned to move this technology into the market.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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