Development/Integration of Low Cost, Light Weight See and Avoid Capability for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Not Available Rechargeable Battery Corporation has developed innovative bismuth modified manganese dioxide (BMMD) materials with unique electro- active properties. These BMMD materials could significantly enhance the performance of rechargeable lithium batteries, and are already the basis of an advanced Secondary Zinc Alkaline Manganese Dioxide (SZAMTM) battery technology. In the alkaline system the bismuth dopant confers deep (2-electron), reversible, cyclability to the MnO2. By complexing with soluble Mn(III) species, the bismuth serves as a redox catalyst, increasing the working voltage of the cell. Steric effects of the Bi-Mn complexes appear to prevent the formation of non-rechargeable MnO2 phases so that capacity fade in practical cells is low; 500 cycles are readily achieved. There is now direct evidence that BMMD materials can produce similar effects in rechargeable lithium systems, potentially translating into capacities of more than 500 Ah/kg and cell voltages of 3- 4+ Volts, if the same level of benefit can be achieved. Solution-phase structural stabilization constitutes an entirely new approach toward the development of manganese oxides for rechargeable lithium batteries. In this Phase I SBIR development program, various structural forms of BMMD will be incorporated into the cathode of button cells with lithium anodes and evaluated for specific capacity, cyclability and fade. Micro-structural analysis will be carried out on the material before and after cycling.