A Solid State Bipolar Battery for High Power Sonobuoy Applications

U.S. Naval operations, like all U.S. Military operations, have come to depend more and more on high power electronics for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), communication, targeting, and other mission related activities, which has created a huge increase in demand for the energy sources one that hasnt been met adequately. To ensure the long duration, high power operation, sonobuoy or UAV-sonobuoy requires high power and high energy density batteries. Current primary lithium batteries, such as Li/SO2 battery, cannot meet the pulse power demand. Moreover, the cost and safety are two other concerns of these batteries. Hence, there exists a strong market pull for developing a low cost, high power and energy primary battery to meet the challenge. In this proposal, low cost electrochemical couples are selected. In combination with 3D electrode structure, bipolar configuration and polymer electrolyte, a high power, low cost and long shelf life battery will be developed. The battery will also have intrinsic safety. Once developed, it can meet the stringent requirements of this solicitation.