US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers working on the Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety (SABERS) project have made progress in developing an innovative battery that is lighter, more efficient and safer than its peers. currently used in industry. We are talking about a solid-state battery, which in terms of characteristics is significantly superior to lithium-ion counterparts.
Image Source: NASA
Battery performance is a key aspect in the development of sustainable modes of transport such as electric aircraft. Batteries have to store a huge amount of energy needed to power the aircraft, while they must have a small mass and discharge at a certain rate.
To create such a battery, SABERS used innovative materials that had not previously been used in this area. As a result, researchers have made significant progress. Over the past year, they have managed to increase the rate of battery discharge, first by 10 times, and then by another 5 times, bringing development closer to the goal of creating a battery to power the aircraft.
The use of innovative materials has also enabled a number of changes to be made to the design and packaging of solid-state batteries. This helped to reduce their mass and increase their capacity. Instead of placing each individual battery cell in a separate steel case, as is the case with lithium-ion batteries, all SABERS battery cells can be stacked vertically inside one case. Using this approach, the researchers clearly showed that solid-state batteries can power cars with 500 Wh/kg, twice that of today’s electric vehicles.
“This design not only eliminates 30-40% of the mass of the battery, but also allows us to double or even triple the energy that it can store, which is far beyond the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries, which are considered cutting-edge.”– said one of the participants in the SABERS project, Rocco Viggiano.
Safety is another key requirement for using batteries in electric aircraft. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries do not catch fire when physically damaged and can continue to work even in this condition. The SABERS researchers tested their battery at different pressures and temperatures. As a result, it was found that it can operate at temperatures almost twice as high as lithium-ion batteries, and without the need for complex cooling systems.
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