High Specific Energy Lithium Cells for Space Exploration

¹ Democritus University of Thrace, Kimmeria Campus 67100 Xanthi, Greece
² CERTH, 6 th km. Charilaou-Thermi Rd., GR570 01, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
³ ESA/ESTEC, PO Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Email: farmakis@ee.duth.gr
Email: stellab@cperi.certh.gr
Email: Maria.Nestoridi@esa.int

Abstract

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.