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Composite Alkaline
Dr. Robert C. McDonald, Principal Investigator, rmcdonald@ginerinc.com
Dr. Anthony B. LaConti, Business Official, alaconti@ginerinc.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG 02‑08ER85094
Amount: $99,870
Although the generation of electricity from renewable
sources such as solar or wind offers enormous potential for meeting future
energy demands, these sources are intermittent.
Therefore, an efficient electrical energy storage system is required to
ensure that the electricity is reliably available 24 hours a day, as needed for
commercial and residential grid applications.
Rechargeable alkaline batteries offer one
solution, but their performance requires improvement by increasing the
transport number for the electrolyte anion, hydroxide. This project will use advances in permeation
ionomer science and transport processes to develop a low-solvent electrolyte
with high transport number for the hydroxide ion. The electrolyte will be safe to
manufacture. Also, the amount of free
solvent water will be limited, in order to reduce the risk of leakage.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed electrolyte will have the potential to improve cycle life, safety, and service life of rechargeable batteries where high specific power is required. The proposed electrolyte should improve safety in manufacturing and handling by immobilizing and controlling hydroxide-ion transport of the caustic component of the battery electrolyte.