Conductive Carbons by Design: Electrochemically Tailored Carbon Nanotube Additives for High Energy Long Lifetime Space Batteries

The need for improved access and resiliency of energy storage is critical to all DOD missions. In this proposed Phase II project, SkyNano will demonstrate our novel multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) materials as an enabling component of Li-ion battery anode architectures for improved cycle life and energy density for critical Air Force Space Systems Command energy storage needs. This will be accomplished through a combination of effective dispersion protocol development, electrode formulation that: 1) incorporates SkyNano MWCNTs with state of the art graphite anodes; 2) utilizes SkyNano MWCNTs as a stand-alone intercalation material; and 3) incorporates SkyNano MWCNTs with next-generation silicon-doped graphite anodes. This effort will rely on collaborations with Eonix for coin cell fabrication and testing with their novel pseudo-reference electrode architecture, which enables exponentially greater mechanistic understanding of phenomena occurring at each electrode in the cell, and with EaglePicher for guidance throughout project to ensure feasible transition pathway, and for pouch cell fabrication and testing.