Engineering Creativity Award: Lithium Iodine Battery Systems

本研究的主要目标是提高碘锂（PZVP）电池系统的功率密度能力，并深入了解阴极在电池速率限制机制中的作用，特别是在放电电流方面。研究计划如下：首先，电池将采用新的阴极制备工艺制造。将确定低倍率下的一般放电行为，以便与传统电池进行比较。然后对高倍率放电性能进行评估。为了评价阴极改性的有效性，将采用多种方法。采用激光全息干涉法和电化学阻抗法分别对放电均匀性和碘化锂电解液电导率进行原位监测。测试后的扫描电子显微镜将用于确定改性对放电产物形成的影响以及与原位测试结果的相关性。根据得到的结果，可以包括进一步的阴极制备修饰。通过改变电池的化学成分和制造过程，功率传输能力可能会有一个数量级的提高。这种增强的电池系统可以在更广泛的植入设备中找到新的应用，包括多输入/输出可编程起搏器、植入式除颤器、植入式药物输送系统以及其他重要的工业和深空应用。

The primary objective of this research effort are to enhance the power density capabilities of the lithium iodine (PZVP) battery system and to provide an in-depth understanding of the role of the cathode in the battery rate limiting mechanism particularly with respect to discharge current. The plan of research is as follows. First the batteries will be fabricated employing the new cathode preparation procedure. General discharge behavior at low rates will be determined for comparison to conventional batteries. High rate discharge performance will then be evaluated. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the cathode modification a number of methods will be utilized. Laser holographic interferometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy will be used in-situ to monitor the uniformity of discharge and the lithium iodide electrolyte conductivity respectively. Post-test scanning electron microscopy will be employed to determine the influence of the modification on discharte product formation and correlation with in- situ testing results. Depending on the results obtained further cathode preparation modifications may be included. Potentially an order of magnitude increase in power delivery capability is attainable by modifying cell chemistry and manufacturing procedure. This enhanced battery system could find new application in a broader class of implant devices including multi-input/output programmable pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, implantable drug delivery systems as well as other important industrial and deep space applications.