Thin-film Li-LiMn2O4 batteries

Thin-film rechargeable Li-LiMn₂O₄ batteries have been fabricated and characterized. Following deposition by electron beam evaporation of LiMn₂O₄, the amorphous as-deposited cathode films 1 cm² in area by 0.3to 4-μm thick were annealed at 700°C to 800°C in oxygen in order to form the crystalline spinet phase. The specific capacity of the cells between 4.5 V to 3.8 V ranged from 50 μAh/mg to 120 μAh/mg. When cycled over this range, the batteries exhibited excellent secondary performance with capacity losses as low as 0.001% per cycle. On charging to 5.3 V, a plateau with a median voltage of 5.1 V was observed. The total charge extracted between 3.8 V to 5.3 V corresponded to about 1 Li/Mn₂ O₄     

Tandem solar cells with 31% (AM0) and 37% (AM1.5D) energyconversion efficiencies

The authors demonstrate that the efficiency of GaAs satellite solar cells can be increased to 31% (AM0) with two straightforward modifications. First, the wire grid reflection losses on the GaAs cell can be eliminated by attaching and aligning a thin grooved cover slide. The grooves in this cover slide deflect the incident light rays away from the wire grid lines into the cell active area, increasing the efficiency from 22% to 24%. The second modification involves making the GaAs cell transparent to the infrared energy that normally is wasted and then placing an infrared sensitive GaSb booster cell behind the GaAs cell. This increases the AM0 solar energy conversion efficiency from 24% to 31%. The GaAs/GaSb tandem solar cells have conversion efficiencies of 37% if used for terrestrial (AM1.5) rather than space (AM0) solar electric power systems, high enough that utility-scale solar electric power may someday be economical     

High-efficiency GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells

GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells have achieved new record efficiencies, specifically 25.7% under air-mass 0 (AMO) illumination, 29.5% under AM 1.5 global (AM1.5G) illumination, and 30.2% at 140-180x concentration under AM 1.5 direct (AM1.5D) illumination. These values are the highest two-terminal efficiencies achieved by any solar cell under these illumination conditions. The monolithic, series-connected design of the tandem cells allows them to be substituted for silicon or gallium arsenide cells in photovoltaic panel systems with minimal design changes. The advantages of using GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells in space and terrestrial applications are discussed primarily in terms of the reduction in balance-of-system costs that accrues when using a higher efficiency cell. The new efficiency values represent a significant improvement over previous efficiencies for this materials system, and we identify grid design, back interface passivation, and top interface passivation as the three key factors leading to this improvement. In producing the high-efficiency cells, we have addressed nondestructive diagnostics and materials growth reproducibility as well as peak cell performance     

Radioisotope powered AMTEC systems

Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) systems are being developed for high performance spacecraft power systems, including small, General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) powered systems. Several design concepts have been evaluated for the power range from 75 W to 1 kW. The specific power for these concepts has been found to be as high as 18-20 W/kg and 22 kW/m³. The projected area, including radiators, has been as low as 0.4 m²/kW. AMTEC power systems are extremely attractive, relative to other current and projected power systems, because AMTEC offers high power density, low projected area, and low volume. Two AMTEC cell design types have been identified. A single-tube cell is already under development and a multi-tube cell design, to provide additional power system gains, has undergone proof-of-principle testing. Solar powered AMTEC (SAMTEC) systems are also being developed, and numerous terrestrial applications have been identified for which the same basic AMTEC cells being developed for radioisotope systems are also suitable     

TiBw/TA15复合材料板材超塑变形行为研究

研究了TiB_w/TA15复合材料板材在900~960℃、5×10^-4~10^-2s^-1条件下的超塑变形行为。结果表明,TiB_w/TA15复合材料流变应力随拉伸温度的升高和应变速率的减小而降低,在940℃、5×10^-3s^-1变形条件下获得的最大超塑性伸长率为439%。利用Zener-Hollomn参数和Arrhenius方程所建立的峰值应力本构方程为ε·=3.55×10⁸[sinh(2.0×10^-2σ)]^1.99×exp(-6.381×10⁵/RT),其变形激活能Q=638.1kJ/mol。复合材料超塑性变形组织与拉伸温度和应变速率密切相关。高温低应变速率有利于基体α相的动态再结晶以及晶须与基体处孔洞的愈合,低温高应变速率下,孔洞更易萌生于增强相与基体结合界面的端部。动态再结晶对复合材料超塑性的发挥起着关键作用。     

GPS C/N/sub 0/ estimation in the presence of interference and limited quantization levels

The carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N₀) is considered an important parameter describing the GPS receiver performance. This paper compares the performance of two popular coarse-acquisition (C/A) C/N₀ algorithms appearing in literature: the variance summing method (VSM) (Psiaki et al., 2003, Psiaki, 2001), and the power ratio method (PRM) (Van Dierendonck, 1996, Sayre, 2003), in terms of their estimates in 1) additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), 2) narrowband continuous wave interference (CWI), 3) their response to quantization and saturation effects, and their 4) dynamic range. The algorithms were implemented as a part of a software receiver. Two LI GPS data sets are examined; one was obtained from a GPS raw data collection setup, while the other was obtained from a GPS signal simulator. The collected set was stored with almost constant C/N₀ level while the simulated one contained variable C/N₀ levels. The effect of adding AWGN on the C/N₀ estimate was directly proportional with the noise power. The C/N₀ estimates suffered more when the CWI frequency was closer to the IF of the receiver. The PRM suffered from saturation at higher C/N₀ levels. The VSM showed good tracking at high C/N₀ levels and better immunity to limited quantization levels, while its C/N₀ estimate suffered from rapid fluctuations in power levels when sudden power steps occurred     

Status of the Air Force nickel hydrogen low earth orbit life test

The US Air Force NiH₂ LEO (low earth orbit) life test consists of 200 cells undergoing real-time LEO cycling, pulse discharge testing, and storage testing. To date, three of the program's four objectives have been met: NiH₂ performance in LEO applications has been demonstrated. A significant number of cells have completed more than 20,000 cycles at 40% DOD. A database for cells of both 3.5 in. and 4.5 in. diameter has been generated. There have been no indications of any performance problems related to scaling up in terms of cell size. Initial data on the pulse discharge performance of a small number of cells has been demonstrated. Concerning the goal of achieving 20,000 cycles at 60% DOD, the data are mixed. Overall, it appears highly unlikely that cell designs such as those currently in the US Air Force test can achieve 20,000 cycles at 60%     

样本量为2的极小样本相容性检验方法

在航空航天领域由于成本、时间周期等原因进行疲劳寿命及可靠性评估时样本量通常极少（m=1或2）,利用相容性检验方法可对样本量进行扩充。常规的Wilcoxon秩和检验和K-S（Kolmogorov-Smirnov）检验适用于小样本情形,而极小样本相容性检验方面研究较少,且缺乏对方法合理性的详细说明和对不同方法检验功效优劣的比较。航空航天产品疲劳寿命多服从正态分布,因此本文主要以正态分布作为研究对象。利用Monte Carlo仿真发现从某一正态分布N（μ,σ²）中随机抽取两个样本x₁、x₂计算均值μ₁和标准差σ₁后构建新正态分布N（μ₁,σ₁²）,其±σ₁、±2σ₁和±3σ₁范围内的点落在原正态分布N（μ,σ²）±3σ范围内的概率依次为99.80%、98.13%和97.37%。在此基础上针对现场试验数据样本量为2的情况,本文提出利用3σ原则对先验信息数据进行相容性检验从而扩充样本量的方法。将该方法与两种文献方法对比后发现其误差率明显更低并呈现出检验性能随先验数据增加而不断提高的优势。     

Next-Generation Thin-Film Photovoltaics

Future spacecraft and high-altitude airship (HAA) solar array technologies will require high array specific power (W/kg), which can be met using thin-film photovoltaics (PV) on lightweight and flexible substrates [1]. Thin-film array technology, with thin-film specific array support structure, begin to exceed the specific power of crystalline multi-junction arrays with thin-film device efficiencies as low as 8.5% [2]. Thin-film PV devices have other advantages in that they are more easily integrated into HAAs, and are projected to be much less costly than their crystalline PV counterparts. Furthermore, it is likely that only thin-film array technology will be able to meet device specific power requirements exceeding 1 kW/kg (photovoltaic and integrated substrate/blanket mass only).     

钛基稀土激光熔覆层组织细化机制及性能

采用通快TruDisk 4002光纤激光器在TC4合金表面分别制备了0wt% Y₂O₃和3wt% Y₂O₃的TC4+Ni45+Co-WC钛基耐磨复合涂层。利用XRD、SEM、EDS、EPMA、显微硬度计和摩擦磨损试验机等分析了涂层组织、显微硬度和摩擦学性能。结果表明，两种涂层表面均无裂纹孔隙等缺陷，且生成相一致，主要包括TiC、TiB₂、Ti₂Ni、WC和α-Ti；0wt% Y₂O₃涂层组织存在明显偏析，析出相尺寸粗大且方向性明显；3wt% Y₂O₃涂层组织呈均匀弥散状态分布，细化特征明显；经Bramfitt二维点阵错配度计算，（100）_Y2O3和（100）_Ti2Ni、（111）_Y2O3和（110）_TiC、（110）_Y2O3和（1010）_TiB2间的错配度分别为5.75%、6.72%和10.10%，Y₂O₃作为异质形核核心对Ti₂Ni、TiC和TiB₂的细化能力依次为Ti₂Ni > TiC > TiB₂；0wt% Y₂O₃和3wt% Y₂O₃涂层显微硬度分别为600~630 HV_0.5和470~480 HV_0.5，较基材分别提高了约62%和26%；3wt% Y₂O₃涂层耐磨减摩性最优，其磨损体积和摩擦系数较0wt% Y₂O₃涂层分别下降了约47.8%和5.0%，磨损机制主要为磨粒磨损。     

Prismatic lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have demonstrated the ability to fulfill the energy storage needs of many new technologies. The most significant drawbacks of currently available technologies, such as LiCoO ₂ based Li-ion cells, is their high cost and significant environmental hazards. Li-ion cells which use a lithium manganese oxide (LiMn₂O₄) spinel based cathode material should be much less costly and safer than LiCoO₂ based cells. Performance data from prismatic design cells which use a LiMn₂O₄ based cathode material is presented and shown to meet many military performance criteria. The most significant drawback of this technology is the short cycle life     

Five-year update: nickel hydrogen industry survey

A 1984 survey of the nickel hydrogen (NiH₂) battery industry is updated. Late 1980s and early 1990s issues are identified, and usage and testing results of the survey are summarized. NiH₂ is the system of choice for new geosynchronous-earth-orbit (GEO) satellites and is being seriously considered for low-earth-orbit (LEO) applications. In five years, the annual cell production rate has doubled from approximately 1000 to 2000 cells. A number of cells under test have exceeded 20000 cycles at 40% DOD in LEO regimes, while other cells have achieved over 35 seasons in accelerated GEO regimes. The LEO database clearly indicates that NiH₂ performance is at least as good as the best conventional nickel-cadmium performance demonstrated under test     

含稀土TiCx增强钛基激光熔覆层组织与耐磨性

采用同轴送粉激光熔覆技术在Ti6Al4V合金表面成功制备了含稀土CeO₂的碳化钛增强钛基激光熔覆层。运用渗透探伤、光学显微镜、X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜、能谱分析仪、电子探针、显微硬度计、摩擦磨损试验机等分析和测试方法研究了碳化钛增强钛基激光熔覆层的成形质量、微观组织、元素分布、硬度和摩擦磨损性能。结果表明,涂层内无裂纹缺陷,仅在层间过渡区分布有少量气孔（孔隙率为1.65%）。涂层中物相主要包括富Ti、Cr元素的β固溶体（CrTi₄）、缺位型碳化钛（TiC_x）和稀土氧化物（CeO₂）。熔覆层各微区的碳化钛形貌存在显著差异,熔覆层顶部和中部区域呈发达树枝晶状和针状,而结合区由针状和小尺寸不发达枝晶组成。碳化钛枝晶中碳元素分布不均匀,一次枝晶含碳量高于二次枝晶。基体相中Ni和Cr元素呈现明显偏析,而Al和V元素分布相对均匀。此外,稀土氧化物CeO₂主要分布于TiC_x与CrTi₄相界以及CrTi₄晶粒边界处。与基材相比,尽管TiC_x增强钛基复合涂层具有较高的摩擦系数,但其耐磨性显著增加（提高近52%）。熔覆层和基材磨损机制均为黏着磨损和磨粒磨损的复合磨损模式,但熔覆层的磨损程度较轻。     

Ultra-lightweight space power from hybrid thin-film solar cells

The development of hybrid inorganic/organic thin-film solar cells on flexible, lightweight, space-qualified, durable substrates provides an attractive solution for space power generation with high mass specific power (W/kg). The high-volume, low-cost fabrication potential of organic cells will allow for square miles of solar cell production at one-tenth the cost of conventional inorganic materials. Plastic solar cells take a minimum of storage space and can be inflated or unrolled for deployment. We explore a cross-section of NASA in-house and sponsored research efforts that aim to provide new hybrid technologies that include both inorganic and polymer materials as active and substrate materials. For NASA applications, any solar cell or array technology must not only meet weight and AMO efficiency goals, but also must be durable enough to survive launch and space environments. Also, balance of system technologies must be developed to take advantage of ultra-lightweight solar arrays in power generation systems.     

PIP工艺制备SiC晶须增强SiCf/SiC复合材料的性能

以不同界面层厚度的SiC纤维为增强相,采用先驱体浸渍裂解工艺(PIP)制备SiC_f(PyC)/SiC复合材料,并在复合材料基体中引入SiC晶须,对其性能进行研究。结果表明:热解碳(PyC)界面层厚度约为230 nm时,SiC纤维拔出明显,SiC_f/SiC复合材料拉伸强度、弯曲强度和断裂韧度分别达到192.3 MPa、446.9 MPa和11.4 MPa?m^1/2;在SiC_f/SiC复合材料基体中引入SiC晶须后,晶须的拔出、桥连及裂纹偏转等增韧机制增加了裂纹在基体中传递时的能量消耗,使复合材料的断裂韧度和弯曲强度分别提高了22.9%和9.1%。     

阳极氧化对TiAl合金高温氧化行为和力学性能的影响

采用电化学阳极氧化技术在含NH4F的乙二醇电解液中对TiAl合金进行阳极氧化处理。研究阳极氧化对TiAl合金高温氧化行为和力学性能的影响。结果表明:由于“卤素效应”,阳极氧化处理的TiAl合金经高温氧化后表面形成致密、连续的Al₂O₃氧化膜,有效阻止了氧的内扩散,进而显著提高合金的抗高温氧化性能。经1000℃氧化100 h后,阳极氧化试样增重由未经阳极氧化处理试样的85.86 mg/cm²降至0.67 mg/cm²。另一方面,阳极氧化TiAl合金表面硬度和弹性模量随高温氧化时间延长呈先降低后升高的趋势。阳极氧化TiAl合金在高温服役后,合金的摩擦系数较未经阳极氧化处理试样上升,但表面耐磨性先降低后升高。这是由于TiAl合金经阳极氧化后,表面形成了一层富铝含氟氧化膜,由于氧化膜中F元素在高温氧化过程中与Ti、Al结合形成卤化物,卤化物蒸气选择性扩散在原始氧化膜处形成致密的Al₂O₃保护膜。阳极氧化对TiAl合金力学性能的影响主要是由于氧化膜中Al₂O₃的含量变化所致。     

Gd2SiO5纳米粉体的并流化学共沉淀法合成

以Gd₂O₃和正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为原材料,采用并流化学共沉淀法合成Gd₂SiO₅粉体材料。研究Gd₂SiO₅前驱体的热响应特征、Gd₂SiO₅粉体的物相组成和微观形貌,并对Gd₂SiO₅粉体的合成机理进行初步探讨。结果表明:前驱体的低Gd/Si摩尔比和反应体系的高pH值会导致Gd₂SiO₅粉体生成Gd_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂杂质相,相反则会导致生成Gd2O3杂质相。当Gd/Si摩尔比为20∶11、pH值为9~10、合成温度为1000~1300℃时,合成的粉体纯度较高,Gd₂SiO₅颗粒呈不规则形貌特征,平均粒度为100~200 nm。Gd₂SiO₅合成过程中,前驱体以一种—[Si—O—Gd]—网络结构存在,在煅烧过程中逐渐转化为Gd₂SiO₅晶体以及Gd_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂和Gd₂O₃杂相。     

Lithium micro-battery development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Recent successes in the effort to miniaturize spacecraft components using MEMS technology, integrated passive components, and low power electronics have driven the need for very low power, low profile, low mass micro-power sources for micro/nanospacecraft applications. Recent work at JPL has focused upon developing thin film/micro-batteries compatible with temperature sensitive substrates. A process to prepare crystalline LiCoO₂ films with RF sputtering and moderate (<700°C) annealing temperature has been developed. Thin film batteries with cathode films prepared with this process have specific capacities approaching the practical limit for LiCoO₂, with acceptable rate capabilities and discharge voltage profiles. Solid-state micro-scale batteries have also been fabricated with feature sizes on the order of 50 microns     

Advances and trends in primary and small secondary batteries

Improvements in performance and reliability continue to be made in the traditional primary and secondary systems such as C-Zn, alkaline MnO ₂, Zn-air, Li-I, and sealed Ni-Cd and lead acid. In addition, two new secondary systems, Ni-metal hydride and lithium ion, have recently been introduced. They are growing rapidly in response to environmental concerns and the need for more energy density by devices. Two new rechargeable systems, Zn-air and lithium polymer electrolyte are nearing commercial production. One manufacturer has just introduced a rechargeable version of the alkaline MnO₂ system for consumer use. Lithium primary systems, such as Li-MnO₂, Li-FeS₂ and CF_x are gaining substantial market share, amounting to about $500 million in 1992. Li-silver vanadium primary cells have been developed to supply the higher currents needed by implantable medical devices such as defibrillators     

Large area solar cells for future space power systems

Space silicon solar cell technology has matured to the extent that large-area planar silicon cells can be fabricated in sizes up to 8 cm×8 cm with efficiencies up to approximately 15%. In order to achieve substantially higher efficiencies, cells based on GaAs are required. It is shown that, subject to certain boundary conditions, the efficiency of GaAs/Ge cells can reach 24% when used in the dual-junction configuration or approximately 19.5% if the Ge substrate is passive. The electrooptical properties of these cells are reviewed, and prospects for achieving these efficiency goals are presented. Experimental performance data are given