HIGH CYCLE LIFE RECHARGEABLE ALUMINUM BATTERIES EMPLOYING NOVEL ORGANIC CATHODES

NASA HAS CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR HIGH ENERGY DENSITY RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR USE IN SPACECRAFT AND PLANETARY ROVER MISSIONS. THESE APPLICATIONS REQUIRE BATTERIES THAT CAN SAFELY DELIVER IN EXCESS OF 1,000 DEEP DISCHARGE CYCLES AT A 10 MA/CM2 RATE WHILE PROVIDING A SPECIFIC ENERGY DENSITY OF 200 WH/KG. TO DATE, RECHARGEABLE LI/INTERCALATION CATHODE SYSTEMS SUCH AS LI/TIS2 AND LI/MOS2CANNOT MEET NASA'S RATE AND ENERGY DENSITY SPECIFICATIONS. WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE USE OF NOVEL HIGHLY OXIDIZING ORGANIC CATHODES AGAINST A RECHARGEABLE A1 ANODE IN A ROOM TEMPERATURE A1C13-BASED MOLTEN SALT. THE A1 ANODE IN THIS ELECTROLYTE IS KNOWN TO DELIVER CYCLING EFFICIENCIES IN EXCESS OF 99% AT RATES OF UP TO 25 MA/CM2 WITHOUT DEGRADING THE ELECTROLYTE. THE RESEARCH TO BE CARRIED OUT DURING PHASE I INVOLVES THE SYNTHESIS OF TWO NEW CATHODE MATERIALS,PREPARATION OF THE CATHODE MATRIX, AND CYCLING THE CELLS AGAINST A1 UNDER A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS.