High Capacity Lithium Ion Batteries

"The objective of this BMDO SBIR Phase-I program is to perform research and development on new designs of anode materials for lithium ion batteries, including novel methods of fabrication with useful levels of specific power and specific energy, highreliability, very high cycle life and low cost, when compared with presently available lithium ion cells. This can be achieved by synthesizing high capacity anode materials and designing batteries in a very thin film configuration. This approach willovercome kinetic constraints on the specific power, cycling efficiency and capacity utilization. The results of this investigation will provide a battery technology that delivers at least 30-40% more energy per unit weight and volume at a projected costper unit performance well below present cost than existing lithium ion batteries. The proposed work addresses a new class of novel intermetallic silicide anodes and novel methods of electrode fabrication. The results of this investigation will help assessthe utility of the very thin film electrode structures in mass manufacture/cost-effective practical batteries. Successful development of high capacity, thin film lithium intercalation anodes should pave the way for the development of a safer lithium ionbattery with higher energy density and exceedingly high cycle life than the state-of-the-art technology. Increasing the energy of the battery by 30-40% over the existing lithium ion cell will induc