A POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REQUIRES A SAFE, LITHIUM BATTERY THAT IS RECHARGEABLE, EFFICIENT, AND RELIABLE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE APPLICATION. A POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FOR A LITHIUM BATTERY WILL ALLOW PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRODES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, BIPOLAR CELL CONSTRUCTION, AND RETARDATION OF UNDESIRABLE SELF DISCHARGE AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS. PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT FOCUSSES ON DEVELOPING A POLYMERIC MATRIX THAT PROVIDES A MACRORETICULATED STRUCTURE, WHICH IS EASILY SOLVATED BY A HIGH CONDUCTIVITY SOLVENT AND FACILITATES LITHIUM-ION CONDUCTION IN ITS MATRIX. THIS TYPE OF POLYMERIC SEPARATOR IS EXPECTED TO YIELD GOOD IONIC CONDUCTIVITY AND WILL BE STABLE IN THE CHOSEN LITHIUM/MANGANESE DIOXIDE (LI/MNO2) CELL CHEMISTRY. THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ALSO INCLUDE DEVELOPING A HIGH RATE MNO2 CATHODE MATRIX AND TESTING THESE COMPONENTS IN A BIPOLAR CELL CONFIGURATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A HIGH RATE, HIGH ENERGY DENSITY LITHIUM BATTERY THAT IS COMPACT, YET SAFE, TO MEET THE U.S. DOE AND U.S. ADVANCED BATTERY CONSORTIUM REQUIREMENTS. PHASE I IS DEVELOPING A NOVEL POLYMER ELECTROLYTE THAT IS STABLE, DEVELOPS A FREE-STANDING FILM, AND IS A HOST STRUCTURE TO A HIGH CONDUCTIVITY MEDIUM FOR LI(+) IONS. ANOTHER PHASE I OBJECTIVE IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A LI/MNO2 BIPOLAR CELL STACK, INCORPORATING THE POLYMER ELECTROLYTE. PHASE II WOULD DEVELOP, DESIGN, FABRICATE, AND TEST LI/MNO2 BATTERY PROTOTYPES FOR MISSION-SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS.