Proposal Number:          21-1- T14.01-2398

          

          

   

Subtopic Title:
      Advanced Concepts for Lunar and Martian Propellant Production, Storage, Transfer, and Usage

          

          

   

Proposal Title:
      Robust and Reversible Metal Supported Solid Oxide Cells for Lunar and Martian Applications

          

          

   

Firm:

          

NexTech Materials, Ltd.

          

   

Address:

          

404 Enterprise Drive, Lewis Center, OH 43035 - 9423

          

   

Phone:

          

(614) 842-6606                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Washington State University

          

   

Address:

          

PO Box 641060, Lighty 280, WA 99164 - 1060

          

   

Phone:

          

(509) 335-9661                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Dr. Emir Dogdibegovic Ph.D.

          

   

E-mail:

          

e.dogdibegovic@nexceris.com

          

   

Address:

          

404 Enterprise Drive, OH 43035 - 9423

          

   

Phone:

          

(614) 842-6606                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Andrew Patton

          

   

E-mail:

          

a.patton@nexceris.com

          

   

Address:

          

404 Enterprise Drive, OH 43035 - 9423

          

   

Phone:

          

(614) 842-6606                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 2
End: 3

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

To support NASA’s challenging space exploration goals for the next few decades, reliable power generation and energy storage technologies are needed. NASA is considering multiple approaches for using residual propellants from space travel or those generated via In-Situ Resource Utilization technologies for onsite power generation on the Moon and Mars. Solid oxide cells are well suited for NASA’s applications due to their high efficiency and performance, ability to operate reversibly in power generation and electrolysis modes, and flexibility to operate at wide temperature ranges with a variety of fuels. However, traditional cell architectures are limited in their ability to recover from high slew rates and rapid thermal changes and electrolyte hermeticity often suffers.

 

Metal-supported solid oxide cells (MSCs) are a game-changing technology for NASA. With a thin ceramic electrolyte enabling high electrochemical performance and porous metal supports providing unprecedented mechanical robustness, MSCs are well-suited for environments with high fluid pressures and vibration loads and extreme thermal changes. Nexceris’ MSC technology has been demonstrated to meet NASA current density targets at atmospheric conditions and has been scaled to large active areas without performance losses. In this Phase I STTR project Nexceris will work with Washington State University to demonstrate the capabilities of its highly robust and reversible planar MSCs under pressure and with pure oxygen.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

Metal-supported solid oxide cells have the potential to meet multiple needs for NASA’s missions to the Moon during the Artemis program and future exploration of Mars. MSCs can use residual propellants (cryogenically stored oxygen and methane) to generate power for lunar landers, exploration rovers and life support technologies. The electrolysis capabilities of MSCs may be used for in-situ resource utilization by providing oxygen for life support and generating additional propellants from existing mineral resources. 

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

The technology developed in this project will be directly applicable to unmanned underwater vehicle applications for the Navy.  With the focus on robustness, power density, and rapid cycling capability, MSCs will also add considerable value for aviation applications and multiple nearer term applications, including portable power sources, military power systems, and automotive range extenders.

          

          

     

Duration:     9