SBIR Phase I: Safer batteries to mitigate injuries from accidental ingestion in children

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种新的电池设计，该设计可以在与水环境接触时迅速失活。每年，数以万计的儿童因摄入硬币电池而遭受痛苦。这些孩子可能会遭受不必要的削弱，有时甚至是致命的后果。随着物联网(IOT)和使用紧凑型、高能量密度、可由消费者更换的电池的可穿戴设备的普及，暴露于不可预见的电池摄取的风险增加。越来越多的人要求这种电池具有更高的电位或容量(或两者兼而有之)，并对毫无戒心的儿童构成越来越大的风险。全球每年销售100亿块硬币电池，这是增长最快、利润率最高的消费电池细分市场之一。预计到2024年，这些销售额将在锂电池一级市场转化为近20亿美元。消费者对硬币电池的使用正在增长；到2030年，预计将有1250亿台物联网设备在全球销售，其中许多设备由硬币电池供电。潜在的儿童摄取问题的严重程度是显著的。这个SBIR第一期项目旨在通过使用一种新的材料设计，在硬币电池与水环境接触时快速停用，从而减少儿童因损伤硬币电池而造成的伤害。这项研究解决了电化学烧伤的基本问题。该解决方案将在电气和其他性能要求方面符合硬币电池的既定标准。第一阶段的研究工作将包括为硬币电池的特定组件(S)寻找合适的材料，证明可以使用可扩展的工艺制造新的材料组合，以及生产在连续欧姆负载和脉冲放电条件下具有适当开路电位和放电特性的手工组装的锂一次电池。研究小组还试图证明，当细胞接触到水环境时，完全组装的细胞会迅速失活。这些测试包括使用高灵敏度的源测量单元(S)在水环境中施加电位和检测电流。此外，还将测试材料的电气、机械和可加工性参数。放电和电池性能测试程序将按照当前标准使用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to develop a novel battery design which rapidly deactivates in contact with aqueous environments. Every year, tens of thousands of children suffer as a result of ingesting coin cell batteries. These children may needlessly suffer debilitating and sometimes fatal consequences. Exposure to unforeseen battery ingestions increases with the proliferation of Internet of Things (IOT) and wearable devices that use compact, high energy density, batteries replaceable by the consumer. Such batteries are increasingly required to have higher potential or capacity (or both) and pose an ever-greater risk to unsuspecting children. Worldwide, 10 billion coin cell batteries are sold annually and this is one of the fastest growing, highest margin consumer battery segments. These sales are expected to translate to nearly $2 billion in the lithium battery primary market by 2024. Consumer use of coin cells is growing; By 2030, 125 billion IOT devices are expected to be sold globally many powered by coin cells. The magnitude of the potential child-ingestion problem is significant. This SBIR phase I project seeks to reduce children's injuries caused by injesting coin cell batteries by using a novel material design to rapidly deactivate coin cell batteries when they come into contact with aqueous environments. The research addresses the fundamental issue of electrochemical burns. The solution will conform to established standards for coin cell batteries in terms of electrical and other performance requirements. Phase I research efforts will include identifying suitable materials for specific component(s) of a coin cell battery, demonstrating that novel material combinations can be manufactured using scalable process, and producing hand-assembled lithium primary coin cell batteries that have an appropriate open circuit potential and electrical discharge characteristics under continuous ohmic load and pulsed discharge conditions. The teams also seeks to demonstrate that fully-assembled cells deactivate rapidly when the cells come into contact with aqueous environments. The tests include the use of highly sensitive source measure unit(s) to apply potential and detect current in aqueous environments. Additionally, material robustness will be tested for electrical, mechanical, and processability parameters. Electrical discharge and battery performance testing procedures will be used in accordance with current standards.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.