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Some projects will align only with either CIF or IRAD support, but many are supported by a combination of both programs to leverage the most from limited resources. The investment in these early stage technologies is intended to mature them to the point that, if successful, they can substantially influence future Mission Directorate programs and projects, and receive follow-on support from NASA programs, external partners, or through commercialization.
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","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"isActive":true,"description":"Catalyst is a portfolio of early stage programs that specialize in different innovation constituencies and mechanisms to push the state of the art in aerospace technology development","programId":92327,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Catalyst","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"Catalyst"},"parentProgramId":92327,"programId":64,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"stockImageFileId":36643,"title":"Center Innovation Fund","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"CIF"},"parentProgramId":64,"programId":167,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4875,"stockImageFileId":36655,"title":"Center Innovation Fund: LaRC CIF","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"LaRC CIF"},"description":"Li-air batteries (LABs) have a theoretical energy density of 3500 - 5000 Wh/kg, nearly 10 times that of conventional Li-ion batteries (LIBs). A huge advantage is that the oxygen reactant at the cathode can be directly obtained from air (air cathode), thus significant cost and weight reduction of the battery can be obtained. However, major challenges remain for the LAB air cathodes, such as low catalytic efficiency and poor oxygen diffusion during long-term cycling.","benefits":"LABs could result in an estimated 80-percent weight savings for energy storage systems in comparison to the LIBs in future green aviation aircrafts. LABs are also relevant to crewed space exploratory missions because there will be an oxygen-containing atmosphere in spacecrafts and habitats. LAB technology is expected to have a major national impact on the development of electric and hybrid vehicles and soldier- portable power systems. With some modifications, our material-based electrode technology could also be applied to various battery, supercapacitor, and other energy conversion and storage systems.","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","destinationType":[],"trlBegin":1,"trlCurrent":2,"trlEnd":2,"favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"programContacts":[{"contactId":159179,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gary","lastName":"Fleming","fullName":"Gary A Fleming","fullNameInverted":"Fleming, Gary A","middleInitial":"A","email":"gary.a.fleming@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":256,"programId":167,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":377059,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Phillip","lastName":"Williams","fullName":"Phillip A Williams","fullNameInverted":"Williams, Phillip A","middleInitial":"A","email":"phillip.a.williams@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":284,"programId":167,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""},{"contactId":233104,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"John","lastName":"Nelson","fullName":"John C Nelson","fullNameInverted":"Nelson, John C","middleInitial":"C","email":"john.c.nelson@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Director","programContactId":253,"programId":167,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Director","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"endDateString":"Sep 2016","startDateString":"Oct 2015"},"technologyOutcomePartner":"Other","technologyOutcomeDate":"2016-10-01","technologyOutcomePath":"Advanced_From","infoText":"Advanced from another project within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (Holey Nanocarbon Architectures for High Performance Li-Air Batteries, Year 2)","isIndirect":true,"infusionPretty":"","isBiDirectional":true,"technologyOutcomeDateString":"Oct 2016","technologyOutcomeDateFullString":"October 2016","technologyOutcomePartnerPretty":"Other","technologyOutcomePathPretty":"Advanced From","technologyOutcomeRationalePretty":""}],"libraryItems":[],"states":[{"abbreviation":"OH","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Ohio","stateTerritoryId":23,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"VA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Virginia","stateTerritoryId":7,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Sep 2017","startDateString":"Oct 2016"}}