Safe High Voltage Cathode Materials for Pulsed Power Applications

A high-voltage, high-capacity, inexpensive cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is proposed. The cathode material employs carbon nanotubes and additional nanostructures to support efficient transport of Li ions. The resulting LIBs will support high transient and pulsed loads while offering enhanced safety and lifecycle performance. Proof-of-concept LIB cells were demonstrated in Phase I. The cathodes exhibit high surface area, short diffusion paths, numerous active sites, and tolerance to volume change during charge/discharge cycles. In Phase II the cathode material and fabrication processes will be further refined. A variety of cells will be produced and tested. Also in Phase II, cells will be combined into higher-voltage LIB modules for specific applications. LIBs based on these cathodes will have better performance characteristics than currently available LIBs and will be much safer.