SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Piersica, Inc. has developed several key battery component technologies that are the basis of a proposed Lithium-Air (Li-Air) battery. Li-Air is a form of battery chemistry that uses oxygen, either from ambient air or a controlled source, in its activation process rather than electrolytic liquid chemicals. As a result, Li-Air batteries have maximum theoretical energy densities more than 5 times that of modern Li-ion cells, whose energy densities are normally around 250 Wh/kg. Li-Air batteries are still in their early stages and have not yet been fully commercialized, but with Piersica’s groundbreaking battery component technologies, the first generation of this proposed Li-Air cell aims to reach at least 1200 Wh/kg. Piersica’s enabling technologies include a novel solid polymer electrolyte separator membrane, a cutting-edge 3D lithium-metal anode which increases Li content 5.3x more than comparable anodes, and an air cathode composed of a solid electrolyte sponge coated with electrically conductive graphite. The proposed concept can enable energy densities 2x-5x greater than legacy primary or reserve batteries and can be made operational under extreme conditions. This validated design is to then be developed into full prototypes and tested to demonstrate performance and target energy density as part of a Phase II effort.
