Rechargeable High Temperature Battery

In order to sustain the supply of natural gas in the long term, dramatic increases in production from deep (>20,000 ft.) reservoirs will be required. Therefore, the drilling industry has a need for electronic devices and power systems, specifically batteries, which can operate at a temperatures exceeding 225C. In this project, thin-film batteries with all solid-state components will be developed for high temperature (up to 260C) applications. SnNx and carbon films will be used as the anode for the batteries. In Phase I, high-temperature cells will be constructed, and their performance will be tested at temperatures up to 260C. A new packaging system, capable of surviving these conditions, also will be developed and tested. In parallel, new cathode and electrolyte processing methods, which will dramatically reduce manufacturing costs for the battery, will be developed. Finally, a model will be established to evaluate the cost benefits for these high energy, high temperature batteries. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The high-temperature battery should enable the drilling industry to extend their down hole operating time and allow continuous drilling, without interruptions to replace batteries. The batteries also should find use in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, where they could be used to power sensors that monitor high-temperature manufacturing processes, such as in a hot plasma.