Why NASA is Building a Solid State Battery
Two Bit da Vinci・2 minutes read
NASA developed Sabers, a solid-state battery with a higher energy density and improved safety for commercial aviation, electric vehicles, and space missions. Despite weight constraints, Sabers could potentially electrify a large portion of commercial flights but faces challenges with power density and cycle life.
Insights
- NASA's Sabers battery breakthrough for aviation uses a solid state electrolyte, offering increased safety and efficiency compared to traditional liquid or gel electrolytes.
- Despite its potential to electrify a large portion of commercial aviation, the Sabers battery faces challenges such as weight constraints that may limit its application in popular aircraft models like the 737, highlighting the importance of balancing technological advancements with practical limitations.
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Recent questions
What is the key feature of NASA's Sabers battery breakthrough?
NASA's Sabers battery breakthrough utilizes a solid state electrolyte instead of liquid or gel electrolytes, enhancing safety and efficiency in comparison to traditional batteries.
How does the energy density of Sabers battery compare to lithium-ion batteries?
The specific energy density of Sabers battery is 500 WS per kogam, almost twice that of typical lithium-ion batteries, making it 40% lighter for the same energy. Additionally, it boasts a volumetric energy density of over 800 W hours per liter, making it 40% smaller than lithium-ion batteries.
What materials are used in the anode and cathode of the Sabers battery?
The anode of the Sabers battery is made of metallic lithium, while the cathode consists of a combination of sulfur, selenium, selenium sulfide compounds, and holy graphene.
What is the operating temperature range of the Sabers battery?
The operating temperature range of the Sabers battery is wider, from 32°F to 302°F, eliminating the need for complex thermal management systems.
How does the Sabers battery impact the aviation industry beyond commercial flights?
The Sabers battery has implications beyond aviation, potentially benefiting the electric vehicle industry and space missions, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
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Summary
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NASA's Sabers Battery: Revolutionizing Aviation and Beyond
- NASA has developed a solid state battery breakthrough called Sabers, aiming to electrify 90% of commercial aviation.
- The battery uses a solid state electrolyte instead of liquid or gel electrolytes, enhancing safety and efficiency.
- Traditional batteries consist of a cathode, anode, and electrolyte, with the anode storing energy and the cathode receiving electrons.
- Sabers battery's specific energy density is 500 WS per kogam, almost twice that of typical lithium-ion batteries, making it 40% lighter for the same energy.
- Sabers battery also boasts a volumetric energy density of over 800 W hours per liter, making it 40% smaller than lithium-ion batteries.
- The battery's operating temperature range is wider, from 32°F to 302°F, eliminating the need for complex thermal management systems.
- The anode of the battery is made of metallic lithium, while the cathode consists of a combination of sulfur, selenium, selenium sulfide compounds, and holy graphene.
- The lithium-sulfur chemistry of the cathode offers a high theoretical specific energy of 2,680 W hours per kilogram, significantly higher than lithium cobalt oxide batteries.
- Sabers batteries use a solid state electrolyte, either lithium-rich solid electrolytes (LGPS) or arite, allowing for bipolar stacking and eliminating the need for external wiring.
- The Sabers battery has implications beyond aviation, potentially benefiting the electric vehicle industry and space missions, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
13:03
"Sabers Battery: Electrifying Commercial Flights with MIT"
- Weight of the system with 30 MIT engines is roughly 190,000 kg, significantly heavier than the weight being replaced.
- Sabers battery may not be able to replace the popular 737 with an electric version due to weight constraints.
- Most passenger flights are under 1500 nautical miles, making a 550 nautical mile range feasible for many flights.
- Sabers battery, combined with a suitable motor like the MIT 1 megawatt prototype, could electrify a large portion of commercial flights.
- Sabers battery has a lower power density compared to other lithium-ion batteries, affecting its charging and discharging rates.
- Polysulfide shuttling in the sulfur selenium battery chemistry can limit the cycle life to only a couple hundred cycles, impacting maintenance costs and downtime.
