Lithium-Metal-Polymer Battery with ultra-thin film electrolyteLithium-metal-polymer batteries have been developed for a number of applications including electric vehicle propulsion systems and batteries to power telecommunications installations. Because there is no liquid or paste electrolyte, they are maintenance free. They have service lives as long as 10 years, under ambient temperatures from -40°C to +65°C.
As announced by Avestor, the thin-film construction occupies only 100 microns (1/10th of a mm, or 0.004 inch) in thickness. Inside this space the layers consist of an aluminum collector sheet backing up the cathode layer of vanadium oxide, a solid conductive polymer electrolyte film, and a metallic lithium anode sheet.
When such a battery is packaged in a 48-volt version for telecommunications purposes, the Specific Energy obtained is 120 Wh/Kg, and the Energy Density is 157 Wh/liter. The battery also demonstrates near zero self-discharge. Compared to lead-acid, the lithium-metal-polymer battery is 1/3 the volume and 1/5 the weight.
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