EEI´s wafer-cell bipolar battery: versatile technology for a variety of military systems

A new versatile battery cell design based on stackable wafer cells is described which forms the unit building block of a new generation of bipolar battery systems for a wide variety of military applications. Current is transported across an outer envelope of conductive plastic film. This innovative bipolar design approach offers improved energy density based on more efficient packaging in prismatic containers as well as elimination of cell hardware. Higher power capability is achieved from the intrinsic low resistance operation in a bipolar mode. These performance improvements are achieved in a low-cost package by virtue of the design simplicity and use of nongraphitic plastic-bonded electrodes. EEI has demonstrated the viability of the wafer cell approach in Ni-MH with sealed cell cycle life in excess of 2000 cycles. Results are also reported for Ag-MH