Power Source Materials & Subcomponents Manufacturing Improvements

MaxPower, Inc. is proposing a new approach to fabricate and manufacture separator membranes for Li and Li-ion batteries which meet U.S. Army objectives of efficient, rapid and economic manufacturing, and reduced "touched" labor based on automation. To meet these objectives, MaxPower is proposing to develop electrospinning technology employing readily available polymers to optimize parameters for manufacturing separator membranes for Li and Li-ion batteries. These new membranes are designed to possess superior mechanical strength, improved chemical and electrochemical stability, and improved conductivities over the temperature range of -40ºC to 70ºC. During Phase I, initial optimization of the technology will involve selection of polymers and electrospinning parameters which will be used to demonstrate automatic production of membranes with specific application to Li-ion batteries such as the BB2590. This new membrane technology will be used to construct and demonstrate Li-ion cells which are the building blocks for the BB-2590 battery. Although the demonstration will focus on the BB-2590 battery, it is important to note that this technology can be used in the manufacture of other types of batteries such as the BA5590 and BA5390 as well as other spirally wound and prismatic designs, and supercapacitors.