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National Aeronautics and Space Administration t e c h n o l o g y o p p o r t u n i t y NASA’s Glenn Research Center invites companies to license an advanced copolymer gel electrolyte that enhances the s Flexible processing: Can accommodate both ionic and
performance of lithium ion batteries. The NASA electrolyte is a polyimide-polyethylene s Simplified fabrication: Straightforward synthesis method is
versatile and can be performed at low temperatures s Increased operating temperature range: Provides high ionic
conductivity at ambient and high temperatures; enables structure. Cured at room temperature, the gel use at sub-ambient temperatures by employing solvents can hold over four times its weight in liquid s Improved safety: Implemented without use of volatile
additives, accommodating both conventional organic compounds, making it safer and more environmentally friendly carbonate solvents and room-temperature ionic liquids. The technology enables a safer, s Improved conduction and battery life: Copolymer holds
more than four times its weight in liquid additives, highly flexible, and environmental y friendly significantly aiding in the conduction of ionic species and fabrication method for producing batteries potentially increase the battery cycle life with high ionic conductivity, high cycling s Dimensionally stable: Cross-linked rod-coil structure and
aluminum oxide nanoparticles confer mechanical strength stability, mechanical strength, and potential y s Low interfacial resistance: Aluminum oxide nanoparticles
give an order of magnitude improvement at electrode www.nasa.gov
Technology DetailsThis technology was developed to address the limitations of lithium-based polymer batteries used in aerospace applications, which need to work at temperatures ranging from -70ºC to +70ºC. Current state-of-the-art solid polymer PEO-based electrolytes, however, only have acceptable ionic conductivities above 60ºC. With a lithium salt dissolved in an ionic liquid, NASA’s new electrolyte This electrolyte technology would enhance gel has ionic conductivity exceeding 10-3 siemens/cm at room temperature. Aluminum oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into the polymer gel electrolyte film to improve electrode kinetics polymer gel batteries in applications such as: How It Works
This technology consists of a composite material with the cross-linked structure of the copolymer, which creates nanoscale voids. The void space is filled with a liquid, and when ionic liquids are incorporated, an increase in ionic conductivity of two orders of magnitude can be achieved.
Diamine and dianhydride are reacted and cured in solution to produce an amine end-capped oligomer. The reaction with a trifunctional molecule yields a fully three-dimensional, cross-linked polymer web. The rod-coil copolymer is believed to exhibit a higher liquid uptake than any other material known in a lithium-ion battery.
Why It Is Better
PEO (and materials based on PEO) is a traditional polymer electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. However with conventional PEO, lithium ion conductivity is two orders of magnitude too low for advanced battery designs. Also, PEO melts at temperatures above 80ºC and does not have good dimensional stability.
example, storing solar power during the day for Other gel electrolytes for lithium batteries are made from Polyvinylidene Fluoride, which has a less flexible matrix, is less environmentally friendly, and is typically more expensive to manufacture. NASA’s new versatile polymer synthesis fabricates easily and offers the flexibility of making a highly conductive electrolyte with either no volatile components (when an ionic liquid is added) or with an added solvent. With no volatile components, the fabrication process is safer and the batteries have high lithium ion conductivity at ambient to high temperatures. By adding solvents, high lithium ion conductivity can be achieved at sub-ambient to ambient temperatures.
The copolymer has a large capacity, holding more than four times its weight in liquid. Its high ionic conductivity improves lithium ion conductivity over a wide temperature range (particularly at room temperature) and enhances battery usefulness. Its cross-linked rod-coil structure and aluminum oxide nanoparticles confer mechanical strength with low interfacial resistance that produces an order of magnitude improvement at electrode interfaces. Office of Technology
Glenn has issued and pending patents on this technology (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,855,433, 6,881,820, Partnerships and Planning
NASA’s Glenn Research Center
E-mail: ttp@grc.nasa.gov
Phone: 216–433–3484
http://technology.grc.nasa.gov
Glenn’s Office of Technology Partnerships and Planning seeks to transfer technology into and out of NASA to benefit the space program and U.S. industry. NASA invites companies to consider licensing the Advanced Copolymer Gel Electrolyte suite of technologies (LEW-18205-1, LEW-18394-1, LEW-17750-1, LEW-17299-2, LEW-17721-1, LEW-17592-1) for commercial LEW-17750-1, LEW-17299-2, LEW-17721-1, LEW-17592-105-17-11

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