Wasatch Ionics, a Utah-based company, recently received a $173,000 Phase I contract from the U.S. Army through the federal Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
Wasatch Ionics is partnering with Brigham Young University to develop a new type of reserve battery for military application through a project titled “Development of High Energy Density Reserve Lithium Oxygen Batteries with Integrated Chemical Oxygen Generation.” Using internally generated high pure oxygen enables the fabrication of a self-contained and hermetically sealed battery design. It also eliminates the adverse effects of moisture, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, which are present in batteries, where oxygen is sourced from the air.
This technology is expected to deliver a reserve battery with a significant improvement in energy density, compared to today’s commercial lithium thionyl chloride liquid reserve batteries.
Wasatch Ionics worked with the Utah Innovation Center on the submission.
If your business is interested in learning more about or applying for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or STTR funding opportunities, please contact our team at innovationutah@utah.gov or visit us at www.business.utah.gov/innovation.