High Power and Capacity Anode for Thermal Battery

Available thermal battery technologies cannot currently meet future requirements that call for higher power and capacity with a smaller mass and footprint. The principal avenue for increasing thermal battery specific energy is to develop new electrode materials and electrolytes. The overall objective of the proposed effort is to develop novel nanostructured anode materials for next-generation thermal battery technology with enhanced electronic conductivity and Li+ storage capacity. In Phase I, we utilized a judicious combination of experimentation and computer modeling to establish proof-of-concept of the newly proposed technology. During Phase II, materials, chemistries and processes will be further developed and refined. Nanostructure design concepts will be optimized using physics-based modeling. Optimized design concepts will be realized using state-of-the-art micro- and nano-fabrication and experimentally evaluated for energy storage and structural stability performance. The technology will be demonstrated using custom engineered battery designs. An experienced, multi-disciplinary team with expertise in design, fabrication and testing of electrochemical power sources, microfabrication, and electrochemical modeling has been assembled. The proposed effort features a partnership between CFDRC and Georgia Tech to successfully meet project objectives and milestones. Beyond Phase II, technology maturation efforts will target integration and packaging, adaptation for specific applications and transition to manufacturing.