By Battery Power Online Staff
July 21, 2020 | The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $1.65 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to NanoGraf to develop a longer-lasting lithium-ion battery, designed to provide U.S. military personnel with better portable power for the equipment they rely on to operate safely and effectively.
The new batteries will be used in field communication devices, night vision goggles, and other electronic devices in which the US military currently relies on disposable AA batteries. The battery cell should operate across a wide temperature range from -4° F to 131° F, and have a shelf life of greater than two years, DOD mandated.
NanoGraf, a spinout of Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory, will apply its patented graphene-wrapped silicon anode battery material to the problem. The company hopes of enabling a 50-100% increase in runtime when compared to traditional graphite anode lithium-ion cells.
“We’re tremendously excited by the opportunity to partner with the Department of Defense on such a mission-critical project,” said Cary Hayner, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of NanoGraf, in the press release. “Portable power is crucial when it comes to keeping U.S. soldiers safe, and we know NanoGraf brings the necessary knowledge and technology to get there.”
Enhanced portable power is key to the U.S. military’s ability to provide resilient networks, portable communications, and the ability to operate effectively as a smaller dispersed force – ultimately keeping U.S. soldiers and military operators safer as they execute critical missions around the globe.
