High Energy Density Thermal Battery with Nanostructured Cathode Materials

The U.S. Army is seeking a technical innovation to thermal batteries with significant improvements on specific energy and operation life. Thermal batteries have advantages compared with other types of reserved batteries in terms of long reserve-time, high reliability, maintenance free, high specific power, wide application temperatures, and good mechanical properties. However, the low cell voltage and shorter thermal life prevent improvement on energy density and operational time. US Nanocorp, Inc (USN) proposes to develop a high performance thermal battery with a high voltage nanostructured cathode material and a new compatible low melting point electrolyte. Coupled with LiSi/LiAl anode, the nanostructured oxide cathode operates at >2.2V and have higher specific energy compared with the current FeS2 cathode working at 1.7V. The new electrolyte with a melting point <250oC and good chemical compatibility with high voltage cathode, will increase the active working time of the thermal batteries by increasing their thermal life (5X). The application of the new cathode and electrolyte will increase the energy over 30% and working time over 40%. As extra advantages, the low melting point electrolyte reduces the battery’s surface temperature during operation and high single cell voltage reduces the cell number for a certain voltage battery.