Isostatically Pressurized and Lightweight Cell Case for Solid-State Batteries

Battery cells are sealed inside a strong, flexible pouch which is placed inside a lightweight pressure vessel filled with inert working fluid (e.g., argon gas, silicone oil) that applies a low pressure evenly around the pouch, ensuring uniform compression and eliminating directional stress on the cell. This case maintains constant pressure throughout the battery’s life cycle to ensure consistent contact between solid components, which optimizes performance and minimizes damage. The pressure necessary in this design is much lower than that in uniaxial systems, which allows for a less heavy packaging system. This lightweight design and improved technique may show particular relevance on large scales (e.g., aerospace, automotive), where onboard load weight and longevity are priorities. This isostatic battery case contributes to the SABERS 2.0 portfolio (LEW-TOPS-188), improving the state of the art for solid-state batteries. Currently at a TRL 4, the case is available to license independently or as part of the larger SABERS solid-state battery suite. The SABERS 2.0 (Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety) portfolio is a collection of innovations focused on improving solid-state battery performance and safety. Solid-state batteries display several improvements over traditional lithium-ion batteries and have been shown to perform better when their solid components are under applied pressure. This pressure is often uniaxial (i.e., one-directional), which requires large, heavy machinery and can result in battery damage or directional dendrites which may harm the battery further. These burdens and risks create a hurdle to scalable commercialization. To address these issues and improve adoptability of solid-state batteries, scientists at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have added an isostatically pressurized cell case to the SABERS 2.0 portfolio that eliminates uniaxial pressure risks, reduces packaging weight, and enhances battery performance and cycling ability.