Project Title:

Fibrous Oxide Electrode Materials for High Energy Density, Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

94-1	10.03	6744		

Fibrous Oxide Electrode Materials for High Energy Density, 
Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Abstract:

State-of-the-are oxide electrode materials for high energy density, 
rechargeable lithium batteries will be made in the form of fibers 
by a novel technique, and tested in prototype lithium cells.  
Oxides such as LiCoO2 and LiXFe2O3 have shown the potential for 
high energy densities in research cells.  However as these 
materials are currently made in pressed powder form, they suffer 
from low conductivity and poor cycle life, and are difficult to 
fabricate into "jelly roll" electrodes for high capacity cells.  
The innovation should greatly improve rate and cycling 
capabilities, enable the fabrication of flexible "felt" electrodes 
for cylindrical cells, and reduce the production cost.  Objectives 
are to fabricate and characterize fibrous oxide electrode 
materials, test in lithium cells and compare their performance to 
conventionally prepared materials, and demonstrate that large scale 
electrodes can be made.  The program will demonstrate that fibrous 
oxide electrodes can be incorporated into rechargeable lithium 
batteries which are safe, have long cycle and shelf life, and have 
energy density in excess of 150 Wh/kg.  The innovation addresses 
NASA needs for lithium batteries for planetary spacecraft and 
probes, and for portable, rechargeable energy storage concepts with 
significant increases in energy density over Ni/Cd and Ni/H2 
batteries.

Reliable, high energy, high power rechargeable batteries would find 
a large market in portable consumer products such as telephones, 
televisions, video cameras, computers and electric vehicle 
propulsion.   The proposed innovation in oxide fiber fabrication 
could also produce new fibers for use in structural composite 
materials.

Key Words

TPL, Inc.
3768 A/B Hawkins, NE
Albuquerque, NM  87109