HYBRID RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR HIGH RATE PULSED DISCHARGE APPLICATIONS

THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY/ELECTROCHEICAL CAPACITOR HYBRID. THIS WILL ALLOW PULSE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET FOR SELECTED ARMY COMMUNICATIONS MISSIONS AND FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY SATISFIED BY A BATTERY ALONE, AND FOR WHICH THE ENERGY STORAGE AND CURRENT LEAKAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS ARE INADEQUATE. A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO OPTIMIZE THE CARBON ELECTRODES WHICH ARE USED IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CAPACITORS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THEIR ENERGY DELIVERY CAPABILITY WHILE ACHIEVING LOW ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE AND LOW EQUIVALENT SERIES RESISTANCE. THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH CONDUCTIVITY SUPERACIDS WILL BE EXPLORED, WITH THE AIM OF IMPROVING THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND LEADING THE WAY TO MORE EFFICIENT ELECTRODE STRUCTURES. FINALLY, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT FOR MINIMIZING CHARGING EFFICIENCY LOSSES IN THE TRANSFER OF ENERGY BETWEEN THE LITHIUM BATTERY AND THE ELECTROCHEMICAL CAPACITOR WILL BE DEFINED.