The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded a research contract worth $100,000 to ADA Technologies to study the use of sophisticated ionic liquid electrolytes and nanocomposite electrodes to enhance the protection and performance of lithium-ion batteries.
The demand for batteries with higher power density and energy potential are growing with increasing demand for spacecrafts with overall energy-storage and on-board power capacity. Despite rapid advancements, lithium-ion batteries still face some restrictions. ADA Technologies will conduct a research to develop lithium-ion batteries with enhanced power and energy, operating life, storage potential, broader operating temperatures and operational safety than existing lithium-ion batteries.
The R&D Program Manager at ADA Technologies, Douglas Campbell stated that combining nanocomposite electrodes, which have high operating life, high rate functionality and high capacity, with non-flammable and non-volatile ionic liquids shows significant potential.
ADA Technologies’ new lithium-ion battery technology can also be applied in commercial satellite and military industries where high operating life, power density and high energy are required. Moreover, the technology can be used in several applications that demand lithium-ion batteries with enhanced performance and operational safety such as portable power systems, unmanned aircraft systems, consumer electronics, utility grid and automotive applications.