High Energy Battery Materials with Novel Separator and Electrolytes for Space Applications

NOHMs nanostructured battery technology will enhance capability extended duration of future NASA space missions. Missions will continue to become more complex and increase in duration using manned and unmanned space vehicles, landers, rovers, satellites, and EVA. Next-generation space platforms will continue to demand more power to sustain longer-range communication, increasingly complex sensing capability, and longer range for manned and unmanned vehicles. Advances in vehicle transport and exploration systems will continue to increase power and energy demand beyond the capabilities of commercially available battery systems. Additionally, as NASA continues to plan for missions to the Moon and Mars, there is increasing logistical burden to transport vehicle and portable power systems to the remotest of destinations. Battery-powered robotic systems for space and military use, including UAVs, Unmanned Ground Vehicles are a growing market worldwide. Because of this increased interest around the world, the global market for robotics will grow from $5.8 billion in 2010 to more than $8 billion in 2016, with the United States as the largest by far with over 50% of the value share held by American firms. Effectively integrating new, longer lasting, higher energy density batteries into space mission would give vendors a significant value proposition with which to expand their share in a multibillion dollar industry in which virtually every space system requires batteries.

While lithium ion batteries have garnered a lot of attention, secondary lithium-sulfur batteries employing sulfur as the cathode and metallic lithium as the anode offers the highest energy storage potential of any two solid elements. They offer more than twice the energy capacity of currently deployed lithium ion battery technology with half the weight. If the potential of these batteries can be harnessed, they are expected to disrupt current lithium ion cell technology because of their higher energy density and the low cost and wide-spread availability of sulfur. NOHMs is positioned well initially as a material manufacturer (cathode and electrolyte) that will approach major battery manufacturers (e.g. Panasonic, A123 Systems, LG Chem, NEC, Johnson Controls) as (1) customers or (2) potential licensees. NOHMs materials are suitable for three energy storage sectors. ¿ Mobile Consumer Devices: Most competitive market with greatest sales potential. ¿ Electric Vehicles: Fastest growing market with strong incentives. ¿ Stationary Energy Storage: Least competitive market with high potential for federal and state subsidies. More »