RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR VENTRICULAR ASSIST SYSTEMS ^ R&D

FOR HIGH-ENERGY NICKEL-ZINC BATTERIES A NEW HIGH-ENERGY NICKEL-ZINC RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SYSTEM FOR APPLICATION IN VENTRICULAR ASSIST SYSTEMS (VAS) IS PROPOSED. THE PARTICULAR R&D ASPECT OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I PROGRAM IS THE STUDY OF A NEW APPROACH TOWARDS A HIGH-CAPACITY NICKEL ELECTRODE EMPLOYING A LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON COMPOSITE MATRIX AND, THEREFORE, LEADING ALSO TOWARDS HIGHER ENERGY DENSITIES. THE KEY APPROACH IS TO USE SHORT GRAPHITIC FIBERS COATED WITH NICKEL TO PRODUCE FIRST A THIN MAT AND SINTER IT TO A STRONG, LIGHTWEIGHT MATRIX, 7582% POROUS. THE MATRIX WOULD THEN BE IMPREGNATED WITH ACTIVE MATERIALS TO PRODUCE A NICKEL-OXIDE CATHODE FOR USE IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-ENERGY NICKEL-ZINC CELLS WITH ESTIMATED ENERGY DENSITIES OF 2530 WH/LB COMPARED