Rechargeable Battery for Ultra Low Temperature Environments

Abstract

Rechargeable energy storage systems that can efficiently operate at ultra-low temperatures down to -50°C or lower are needed to support Arctic zone development and aerospace exploration. Existing batteries today such as Li-ion and Pb-acid batteries all lose functions at colder temperatures. We have discovered a battery chemistry for which the amount of energy stored actually increases as temperature decreases, and storage cost commensurately decreases. Furthermore, this novel battery is composed of low-cost, widely available materials, and has a simple design that is self-assembling. In our study, we develop the zinc battery system composed of a pair of immiscible liquid electrodes that density-based self-assembly into a layered configuration without a membrane separator. This allows the zinc negative electrode to use low-cost iron or steel packaging that simultaneously serves as the current collector, while a reversible chlorine electrode serves as the positive electrode. The use of liquid electrolytes allows inherent stress relaxation suggesting high cycle life. We investigate anode and cathode solution chemistry, chlorine electrode redox kinetics including catalyst development, and integration of components into prototype batteries. Our progress shows promising battery cycling performance below 0°C, and indicates the technoeconomic feasible through technoeconomic analysis.This abstract submission is for session A1-Triple I.Reference: Li, Zheng, et al. "Air-breathing aqueous sulfur flow battery for ultralow-cost long-duration electrical storage." Joule1.2 (2017): 306-327. Landolt, D.; Ibl, N. (1972). "Anodic chlorate formation on platinized titanium". Journal of Applied Electrochemistry. Chapman and Hall Ltd. 2(3): 201–210. DOI:10.1007/BF02354977. S2CID 95515683.Hale, Arthur (1918). The Applications of Electrolysis in Chemical Industry. Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 13. Retrieved 2019-09-15.