EVALUATION OF ZINC-OXYGEN CELLS WITH ADVANCED COMPONENTS

RECENT COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS WILL BE APPLIED TO THE DESIGN OF RECHARGEABLE ZINC-OXYGEN CELLS. THE ZINC-OXYGEN COUPLE HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS HAVING THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY HIGH ENERGY DENSITY; HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN LIMITED BY PROBLEMS WITH OXYGEN-ELECTRODE STABILITY AND ZINC-ELECTRODE SHAPE CHANGE. THE OBJECTIVE OFTHIS PROJECT WILL BE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USINGADVANCED BIFUNCTIONAL ELECTRODE MATERIALS AND SEPARATORS IN THE BATTERY. THESE COMPONENT TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE APPLIED TO THE ZINC-OXYGEN CELL IN A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM OF CELL FABRICATION AND TESTING. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY, ZINC-OXYGEN BATTERY WITH AN EXTENDED LIFE CYCLE WILL PROVIDE A TECHNOLOGY THAT MEETS MANY COMMERCIAL AND AEROSPACE NEEDS. THE NEED FOR PORTABLE POWERFOR SPACE STATION EQUIPMENT COULD BE MET BY THE BATTERY. GIVEN THE SAFE NATURE OF THE BATTERY REACTANTS AND ITS INHERENT HIGH ENERGY DENSITY, THE ZINC-OXYGEN SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT CAN MEET THE ENERGY-DENSITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR AEROSPACE USES. RECENT COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS WILL BE APPLIED TO THE DESIGN OF RECHARGEABLE ZINC-OXYGEN CELLS. THE ZINC-OXYGEN COUPLE HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS HAVING THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY HIGH ENERGY DENSITY; HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN LIMITED BY PROBLEMS WITH OXYGEN-ELECTRODE STABILITY AND ZINC-ELECTRODE SHAPE CHANGE. THE OBJECTIVE OFTHIS PROJECT WILL BE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USINGADVANCED BIFUNCTIONAL ELECTRODE MATERIALS AND SEPARATORS IN THE BATTERY. THESE COMPONENT TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE APPLIED TO THE ZINC-OXYGEN CELL IN A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM OF CELL FABRICATION AND TESTING. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY, ZINC-OXYGEN BATTERY WITH AN EXTENDED LIFE CYCLE WILL PROVIDE A TECHNOLOGY THAT MEETS MANY COMMERCIAL AND AEROSPACE NEEDS. THE NEED FOR PORTABLE POWERFOR SPACE STATION EQUIPMENT COULD BE MET BY THE BATTERY. GIVEN THE SAFE NATURE OF THE BATTERY REACTANTS AND ITS INHERENT HIGH ENERGY DENSITY, THE ZINC-OXYGEN SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE FEW THAT CAN MEET THE ENERGY-DENSITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS FOR AEROSPACE USES.