{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":94125,"title":"Mars Li-CO2 Batteries","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10601,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10600,"level":3,"code":"TX03.2.1","title":"Electrochemical: Batteries","definition":"Batteries store and convert chemical energy to electricity.","exampleTechnologies":"High-specific-energy, human-rated advanced secondary chemistries beyond lithium-ion, nanoelectronics, super/ultracapacitors, extreme environment energy storage, flow batteries","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"This technology could lead to a novel in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) energy concept which efficiently utilizes abundant CO2 in the Mars atmosphere as the cathode reactant for lithium-based batteries (Li-CO2 batteries). This rechargeable energy storage system has been projected to enable significant weight savings for Mars exploration missions, because a large amount of the total reactant mass (~80%) comes from the Martian CO2 atmosphere. High energy density batteries operable in various space environments are needed for space exploration missions. Additionally, technologies that leverage in-situ resources to dramatically reduce launch mass and cost of human exploration missions are also desirable.","description":"Recently, Lithium (Li)-air batteries have attracted significant attention for energy storage in electric vehicles/aircraft because this system utilizes O2 in the air as the cathode reactant (i.e., Li-O2 battery; Li + O2 \\u2194 Li2O2) and is projected to attain ultrahigh, cell specific energy that is substantially higher than conventional Li-ion batteries (1000 vs. ~260 Wh/kg at the cell level). The Mars Air Battery (MAB) is envisioned to have analogous benefits for Mars surface applications, exploiting the abundant CO2 present in the Martian atmosphere. This Mars Air Battery (MAB) concept is a Li-CO2 battery that reacts atmospheric CO2 with lithium metal to produce electric power. This enables dramatically high specific energies because the CO2 reactant is not included in the upmass of the battery system. Significantly, the MABs electrodes may also function effectively in an oxygen-rich environment (habitats, spacesuits, etc.) with no loss in battery performance. This provides the potential to design flexible, multi-use battery systems. The goal is to quantify the system-level benefits of the Mars \"Air\" Battery (MAB) technology at Mars atmospheric conditions (-60°C, 0.6 kPa) over a range of power requirements.","destinations":[{"lkuCodeId":1518,"code":"MARS","description":"Mars","lkuCodeTypeId":526,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"DESTINATION_TYPE","description":"Destination Type"}}],"startYear":2017,"startMonth":10,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":9,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":490677,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"William","lastName":"Bennett","fullName":"William R Bennett","fullNameInverted":"Bennett, William R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"william.r.bennett@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":335305,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Lapointe","fullName":"Michael R Lapointe","fullNameInverted":"Lapointe, Michael R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"michael.r.lapointe@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":392233,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Richard","lastName":"Howard","fullName":"Richard W Howard","fullNameInverted":"Howard, Richard W","middleInitial":"W","primaryEmail":"richard.w.howard@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":280583,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Kurt","lastName":"Sacksteder","fullName":"Kurt R Sacksteder","fullNameInverted":"Sacksteder, Kurt R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"partialg@gmail.cpm","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":159449,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gary","lastName":"Horsham","fullName":"Gary A Horsham","fullNameInverted":"Horsham, Gary A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"gary.a.horsham@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/innovation_fund/index.html#.VQb6gUjJzyE","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":53791,"projectId":94125,"transitionDate":"2018-09-01","path":"Closed Out","details":"The goal of this project was to predict the specific energy that could be achieved by a practical Mars Li-CO2 surface power system. Estimates presented in this work underscore the significance of electrode loading and operating current density on the specific energy that can be achieved by the Li/CO2 couple. Technology is presently at a low technology readiness level (TRL 2-3), and further cathode development is required before the full potential of this technology can be realized.","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"September 2018"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"GRC CIF","active":true,"description":"
Tthe goal of the Center Innovation Fund is to stimulate and encourage creativity and innovation in addressing the technology needs of NASA and the Nation. The GRC Center Innovation Fund is intended to provide GRC Civil Servants, potentially partnering with external organizations and other NASA Centers, with the opportunity to develop new ideas toward this goal, and to pursue their intellectual growth in areas that are deemed to be of strategic importance to the Center. The projects are high payback, highly innovative research proposals that could significantly impact future GRC programs.
","parentProgram":{"acronym":"CIF","active":true,"description":"
Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers.
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