High Specific Energy Lithium Cells for Space Exploration

• Main Authors: Farmakis F., Georgoulas N., Karafyllidis I., Amoiridis I., Elmasides C., Balomenou S., Tsiplakides D., Nestoridi M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2017-01-01
• Series: E3S Web of Conferences
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20171608003

The paper discusses development under an ESA TRP activity (Contract No. 4000109879/13/NL/LvH) with a target of high specific energy Lithium-ion cells, capable of operating under low temperature conditions, i.e. −40 °C. Such cells may be encountered in future exploration missions, which do not consider the use of Radioisotope Heater Units. During the activity, ≥1 Ah silicon-based high energy density prototype cells, following components characterization and optimization, were designed, developed, manufactured and tested under room and subzero temperature conditions down to −40 °C. The developed and tested prototype cells exhibited energy density of around 208 Wh/Kg at room temperature under C/10 charge-discharge rate within voltage range of 2.8 V and 4.1 V. Moreover, the prototype cells could retain and deliver more than 75% of their capacity at room temperature upon cycling at −40 °C, demonstrating an energy density of 140 Wh/kg.