Lithium ion batteries, which use a new battery chemistry, are
being developed under cooperative agreements between Lockheed
Martin, Ultralife Battery, and the NASA Lewis Research Center.
The unit cells are made in flat (prismatic) shapes that can be
connected in series and parallel to achieve desired voltages and
capacities. These batteries will soon be marketed to commercial
original-equipment manufacturers and thereafter will be available
for military and space use. Current NiCd batteries offer about
35 W-hr/kg compared with 110 W-hr/kg for current lithium ion batteries.
Our ultimate target for these batteries is 200 W-hr/kg.
This new system has charge/discharge characteristics very close
to those of cells containing metallic lithium anodes, without
the presence of lithium metal. In the following equations, it
can be seen that only lithium ions are involved:
The absence of lithium metal, high energy density, and other factors lead to benefits for space, military, and commercial use. Lithium ion batteries are smaller and lighter than NiCd batteries, with no toxic materials, no free liquids (use a solid polymer electrolyte), no gas pressure, no thermal runaway, and no incineration problems. They produce no explosions when abuse tested by exposure to short circuits, nail punctures, water immersion, overcharge, overdischarge and reversal, and hydraulic pressures to 1500 psi. In addition to generating only low levels of heat, they operate at higher temperatures and are more powerful than conventional batteries (average discharge voltage is 3.7 V).
Some expected applications are given in the following table:
| Cellular phones
Laptop computers Portable radios Two-way radios Electric vehicles |
Backpack radio battery BB590L (see figure) Missile launch battery Marine battery, swimmera Satellite batteries |
Previous articleLast updated April 30, 1997
Responsible NASA Official:
Gynelle.C.Steele@nasa.gov
216-433-8258
Point of contact for NASA Glenn's Research & Technology reports:
Cynthia.L.Dreibelbis@nasa.gov
216-433-2912
SGT, Inc.
Web page curator:
Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
216-433-5793
Wyle Information Systems, LLC
