High Energy Density Next-Generation Batteries for Lunar/Mars Surface Missions

Physical Sciences Inc.’s Imperia Batteries division will design and prototype a wide-operating temperature Li-ion battery that will be able to serve as a high-performance energy storage solution for Lunar/Mars surface missions. The electrolyte and directly applied separator technologies developed in the Phase I effort will be scaled-up using a previously established cell design to meet identified system requirements. At the cell level, these technologies have been shown to widen the operating temperature range when compared to COTS alternatives. At the battery level, a custom-designed battery management system and housing unit equipped with thermal management material will be designed to enable operation in a broader range of temperature environments, enabling function in environments previously unexplorable given their extreme temperature fluctuations. Imperia will work with the Zenyuk group at the University of California, Irvine and the Pol group at Purdue University to validate cell performance and guide system redesign efforts. These efforts will enable the delivery of a prototype unit to NASA at the end of the Phase II program, showcasing Imperia’s rapid prototyping capabilities. The envisioned goal of the developed technologies is the eventual production and direct sale of energy modules tailored to meet NASA’s specific application needs.