Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery Module
Sulfide Solid-Electrolyte Li-ion Cell-Block (350+ Wh/kg)
Sealed module of all-solid-state Li-ion cells (high-Ni cathode + Li-metal/Si anode + sulfide solid electrolyte) packaged into a thermally-managed enclosure rated for 300+ Wh/kg at cell level and 220+ Wh/kg at module level — the workhorse short-duration energy buffer of the Ark.
Purpose
Provide high-power, fast-response electrical storage to buffer load transients, smooth nuclear/solar source fluctuations, support critical loads during reactor restarts, and absorb peaks the RFC cannot follow on short timescales.
Context
Multiple modules assembled into racks (L3-ESS-LITH-RACK), monitored by L3-ESS-LITH-BMS, thermally regulated by L3-ESS-LITH-COOL, electrically isolated by L3-ESS-LITH-ISOL, and connected via L3-ESS-LITH-CONN. NASA-ISS demonstration of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries showed 562 charge-discharge cycles over 434 days of exposure with no significant degradation.
Principles
- ▸Solid-state Li-ion replaces flammable liquid electrolyte with inorganic ceramic (oxide LLZO or sulfide LPS/Li10GeP2S12) or polymer electrolyte
- ▸Lithium-metal anodes deliver theoretical 3,860 mAh/g vs. 372 mAh/g for graphite — enabling 350+ Wh/kg cells when paired with solid electrolyte that suppresses dendrite formation
- ▸High-nickel cathodes (NMC811, NCA, LMR-NMC) provide 4.3 V cell voltage and 250+ mAh/g specific capacity
- ▸Solid electrolytes raise operating-temperature ceiling to +120 °C; some chemistries function down to –40 °C
- ▸Cell-level specific energy 300–400 Wh/kg projected; module-level 70–80 % of cell value after packaging, cooling, BMS
- ▸Cycle life >5000 deep cycles at 80 % retention possible with optimized electrolyte interfaces
Typical implementations
- ▸Saft VES-180 Li-ion modules (heritage, used on James Webb, Mars 2020 — 165 Wh/kg, liquid electrolyte)
- ▸ABSL 18650 module designs (BAE, used on multiple ESA missions)
- ▸Toyota / Solid Power / QuantumScape solid-state automotive cells (commercial 2025–2027)
- ▸ISS Exposed Section all-solid-state Li-ion demonstration: 434-day exposure, 562 cycles, no significant degradation (MDPI Aerospace 12(6):514, 2025)
- ▸EaglePicher Custom Power family for space applications
- ▸Maxwell solid-state hybrid Li-ion (commercial 2024)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Lunar surface temperature swings (–173 °C to +127 °C) far exceed Li-ion operating range; modules MUST be thermally regulated to –20 to +60 °C
- ▸Below –20 °C, conventional Li-ion shows >35% capacity loss; solid-state chemistries extend this floor but still need pre-conditioning
- ▸Long mission requires replacement modules every 10–15 years (depending on cycle depth) — design for plug-and-replace
- ▸Reduced gravity (1/6 g) does not affect Li-ion cells (no electrolyte buoyancy issues)
- ▸Radiation effects on Li-ion cells: TID > 100 krad causes electrolyte breakdown and capacity fade; solid electrolytes are more tolerant than liquid
- ▸Thermal runaway risk is much lower in all-solid-state vs. liquid Li-ion (no flammable electrolyte) — important for unattended 100-yr mission
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Store and dispatch electrical energy on second-to-hour timescales |
| inputs | Charging current from L1-PDM (up to C/2 rate), Coolant interface from L3-ESS-LITH-COOL, BMS telemetry sense lines |
| outputs | Discharge current to L1-PDM, Cell-level voltage/temperature telemetry, Pressure sensor outputs (for solid-state bulge detection) |
| module capacity kwh | 4.0 |
| module voltage v nominal | 48 |
| module voltage v range | 40, 54.6 |
| specific energy wh per kg | 220 |
| energy density wh per l | 450 |
| max charge rate c | 0.5 |
| max discharge rate c | 2.0 |
| operating temperature c | -20, 60 |
| cycle life to 80 percent | 5000 |
| calendar life years | 15 |
| round trip efficiency percent | 96 |
| self discharge percent per month | 1.5 |
Physical
| mass kg | 18 |
| dimensions | 350 × 200 × 80 mm |
| materials | NMC811 or NCA cathode active material on Al current collector, Lithium-metal or Si-graphite composite anode on Cu current collector, Sulfide solid electrolyte (Li10GeP2S12 LGPS or argyrodite Li6PS5Cl) with composite cathode binder, Stainless steel pouch frame with hermetic seals, Aluminum mounting plates with cooling channels, Mica-board electrical insulation |
| operating temperature c | -20, 60 |
| non operating temperature c | -40, 70 |
| radiation tid krad | 100 |
| vibration qual grms | 14 |
Operational
| power consumption w | 0 |
| thermal range c | -20, 60 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 200000 |
| replacement units per decade | 0 |
Interfaces
Provides
- 48 V nominal cell-block output
- Per-cell voltage, temperature, pressure telemetry
Requires
- Module thermal interface to maintain –20 to +60 °C
- Charge/discharge supervision and balancing
- Power and data interconnect to rack
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery Module" (L3-ESS-LITH-MOD). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-ESS-LITH-MOD
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.