Program Manager: Ms. Sharon Beermann-Curtin
As the volume of a power source is reduced, the active material available is reduced, resulting in lower total energy available in the source. A proportionately larger fraction of the total volume of the energy source is consumed by inactive materials (electrolytes, salt bridges, and packaging), leading to a further lessening of energy density. To decrease these packaging penalties, the Micro Power Sources (MPS) Program will develop devices to maximize the volumetric ratio of active materials available to inactive materials to sustain a high energy density.
The MPS Program is exploring innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, and/or systems that result in small primary or secondary energy storage devices. New battery architectures, the use of new materials and their corresponding chemistries, and the incorporation of energy harvesting to maintain energy densities in substantially smaller volumes will result in dynamic operational capabilities. These devices are envisioned as the prime power source for very small sensors, robotic devices, and electronic systems.
To accomplish this goal, researchers are exploring fabrication of power sources that are small in volume (<1 mm3) while maintaining high energy densities (>350 Wh/L). The ability to use MPS in multiple form factors is of importance to military operations requiring small power sources. This program seeks to obtain sources with the ability to be produced in topographically different shapes, to be flexible in modular use, or to be useful for structural or other purposes. The program is incorporating innovative approaches to micro fuel cells, self-assembling battery technologies, energy scavenging micro sources, and integrally packaged 3-D micro batteries.
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