Advances in Thermal Battery Anodes

Thermal batteries are mission critical components which provide power to military weapon systems for electronics, fusing, sensing and actuation. Current and future thermal battery packaging and performance requirements are being pushed to the limits, demanding higher power levels over longer operating times (hence, higher usable energy output) in smaller, lighter packages. These increases are required for: (1) advanced munitions and strategic defense applications employing multifunctional seeker and sensor packages, (2) active data links supporting a net-centric capability and/or (3) increased maneuvering capability. In order to meet these demands, ENSER proposes to demonstrate significant improvements in energy density, power density and operational lifetime employing a new anode material. The primary goal of this effort is to identify a technical path forward for increasing specific energy significantly beyond that currently achievable with the standard Lithium-Silicon alloy anode (44-w% Li, 56-w% Si) Potential new anode materials will be identified and initially evaluated in single cell tests before being incorporated into prototype batteries in Phase I. Material composition and processing will be optimized and performance improvement(s) demonstrated in a selected battery. (potentially JAGM, EAPS or MKV) in Phase II.