Novel, Solid-State Hybrid Ultracapacitor Battery
Power Generation and Storage
Novel, Solid-State Hybrid Ultracapacitor Battery (MFS-TOPS-75)
Solid-state perovskite material offers exceptional capacitance with battery-like power delivery
Overview
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a solid-state ultracapacitor with a unique combination of high capacitance and battery-like discharge characteristics. The high capacitance in a solid-state form can enable a new type of ultracapacitor, and, in combination with the ability to deliver sustained power like a battery, can perhaps enable an entirely new class of energy storage devices.
Test devices have demonstrated high capacitance, and uniquely, a discharge behavior that is more typical of a battery. Data show that these test devices discharge rapidly down to a certain voltage, and then discharge slowly like a battery. Hence, the term hybrid ultracapacitor is used to describe the technology.
The subject technology was developed as a result of efforts to replace range-safety batteries used to power the systems that destroy off-course space launch vehicles. Other commercial applications where ultracapacitors or batteries are used may benefit as well.
The Technology
The subject technology is an extension of closely related, solid-state ultracapacitor innovations by the same team of inventors. The primary distinction for this specific technology is the addition of co-dopants to affect the dielectric behavior of the barium titanatebased perovskite materials. These co-dopants include lanthanum and other rare earths as well as hydroxyl ions. The materials are processed at the nano scale, and are subjected to carefully designed thermal treatments as well.
The presence of the hydroxyl ions has been shown to provide several orders of magnitude increase in the capacitance of the dielectric material. Additionally, these high capacitance values are obtained at relatively low voltages found in current consumer and industrial electronics.
The capacitors tested to date are simple, single-layer devices. Ultimately, a range of manufacturing methods are possible for making commercial devices. Features of the technology enable manufacturing via traditional thick-film processing methods widely used in the capacitor industry, or via advanced printing methods for state-of-the-art printed electronics.
Future efforts will be made to advance the manufacturing and packaging processes to increase device energy density, including multilayer devices and packages
Benefits
- The subject technology has demonstrated capacitance values of up to 1,000 mF per device at 1 V for use as an ultracapacitor.
- Solid-state design is safe and highly robust compared to traditional liquid or gel electrolyte designs. Additionally, a membrane separator is not used.
- A unique, battery-like power delivery provides power over long cycle times, unlike the short duration power discharge characteristics typical of capacitors.
- Devices can be reliably and repeatedly charged and discharged for many thousands of cycles with no degradation, unlike that of other types of rechargeable batteries.
- Energy storage capacity is comparable to a typical rechargeable battery, but in a smaller volume and lighter weight package, and with much more rapid charging.
Applications
- Target applications for the NASA technology are in pulsed power for in-space satellite propulsion systems. Other commercial terrestrial applications include rechargeable batteries for use in electric vehicles, or electric grid energy storage, cell phones, and numerous other consumer and industrial electronic devices.
Technology Details
Power Generation and Storage
MFS-TOPS-75
MFS-33228-1
MFS-33223-1
MFS-33228-2-DIV
MFS-33228-3-DIV
MFS-33115-1-DIV
-Cortés-Peña, A. Y., T. D. Rolin, and C. W. Hill. A Novel Solid State Ultracapacitor. No. M17-6033. 2017.
-Zhang, L., Shan, X., Bass, P. et al. Process and Microstructure to Achieve Ultra-high Dielectric Constant in Ceramic-Polymer Composites. Sci Rep 6, 35763. 2016.
-Zhang, L., Shan, X., Bass, P. et al. Process and Microstructure to Achieve Ultra-high Dielectric Constant in Ceramic-Polymer Composites. Sci Rep 6, 35763. 2016.
