High Power, Long Endurance MnO2/CFx Battery for Sonobuoys Based on Interpenetrating Conductive Network

The need for the United States Navy to maintain a superior global Anti-Submarine Warfare capability is heavily dependent on sonobouys and Navy has identified a need to develop batteries to power sonobuoys which have higher power capabilities than currently used technology. Nanowise LLC proposes to develop a high power MnO2/CFx battery based on interpenetrating conductive network of nanostructures. The battery is a primary lithium battery utilizing a hybrid cathode consisting of MnO2 nanowires, CFx nanospheres and carbon nanotubes additive. The hybrid configuration makes use of both the better rate performance of MnO2 and the higher specific capacity of CFx material. The interpenetrating network configuration and the use of carbon nanotubes can enhance the physical contact between cathode components, improve the rates of electron and lithium ion transport and hence enhance the power capability. The synthesis is based on hydrothermal reactions which make the process scalable and reduces the cost of the battery.