Development of high energy density reserve lithium-oxygen batteries with integrated chemical oxygen generation

The new Bottom Attach munitions for the Close Terrain-Shaping Obstacles (CTSO) program, currently under development by the Army, requires that reserve batteries operate 30 days after activation in a low power sleep mode, while providing multiple high-power pulses. This operational profile requires batteries with energy and power densities beyond the limits of the current liquid reserve batteries. Therefore, the Army has an urgent need to find the next generation of high energy density reserve battery systems that can meet these operational targets. Wasatch Ionics LLC, in collaboration with Brigham Young University, proposes the development of next generation reserve batteries based on high energy density lithium-oxygen chemistry with integrated chemical oxygen generation (COG). Lithium-oxygen batteries offer the highest known theoretical energy density of all existing lithium metal batteries. Our novel high surface area/high mesopore volume fraction oxygen cathode electrode maximizes discharge capacity by providing a large storage capacity for lithium peroxide, while enhancing oxygen diffusion and electrolyte wetting. Internally generated high pure oxygen enables self-contained and hermetically sealed battery design, eliminating the adverse effects of moisture, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide which are present in batteries where oxygen is sourced from air. The result of this innovation is a novel oxygen activated reserve battery that is expected to deliver a 10-fold increase in energy density, as compared today’s lithium thionyl chloride liquid reserve batteries.     The proposed research will demonstrate the technical feasibility of our Li-O2 reserve battery technology by fabricating and testing functional prototypes, including the chemical oxygen generation system and its integration with the battery. Wasatch Ionics will be partnering with Dr. Dean Wheeler’s battery research group at Brigham Young University to develop a low-cost scalable oxygen cathode electrode that can accommodate precipitated lithium peroxide without significant loss of function.  This novel cathode electrode material is composed of an electrospun mat with hierarchical pores, also known as EMWHiP.