Category |
Opportunity |
DoD Communities of Interest |
Materials and Manufacturing Processes |
Subject |
Exploring Radiant Sources for Energy Storage and Transfer |
Due Date |
15 July 2021 |
Government Organization |
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) |
Description OBJECTIVE Energy storage has relied on materials with large chemical potential energy that could be converted directly or indirectly into electrical energy. The conversion of chemical energy in materials such as battery electrodes and fuels with high energy density and power density (Wh/L, W/L) is achieved through mass transfer inside a battery, fuel cell, turbine, or an internal combustion engine. The power output from conventional energy conversion and storage platforms is limited to mass transfer of ions, liquid, gaseous fuels, or byproducts from/to the energy conversion device. Alternatively, energy transferred and stored as radiant forms of energy (stored as light, heat, and other electromagnetic forms of energy) in materials and its direct conversion and controlled release as electrical energy could, in theory overcome inefficiencies due to mass transfer from chemical sources. As an example, solid-state optoelectronic materials, such as phosphors and thermoelectric generators, can absorb photons (or) phonons and convert absorbed energy directly or indirectly via secondary emission into electrical energy. While low energy density of radiant energy stored in phosphors could potentially be an impediment,1 designing novel phosphors with higher persistence will determine if this can become a viable technology for energy storage.2, 3 DARPA seeks to develop energy storage solutions that can be charged using radiant sources of energy, store energy that can be released as radiant forms, and directly converted into electrical energy without any mass transfer between the electrodes. Materials discoveries should be supported by physics-based models, scaled system-level model, and relevance to the Department of Defense via prototype demonstrations. A successful proposal will design and demonstrate radiant energy storage (Track A) or radiant transfer (Track B) system. Track A Track B PHASE I Schedule/Milestones/Deliverables Reports for the following activity should be submitted to DARPA at the end of the indicated performance period. Track A: Radiant energy storage track Track B: Radiant energy transfer track The proposal should identify schedule and monthly deliverables to achieve 2x improvement in efficiency, energy transfer flux as demonstrated by smaller required apertures, system insensitivity to misalignment, calibration speed, or range. Proposers interested in submitting a Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposal must provide documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility described above has been met and describes the potential commercial applications. Documentation should include all relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results. For detailed information on DP2 requirements and eligibility, please refer to Section 4.2, Direct to Phase II (DP2) Requirements, and Appendix B of HR001121S0007. PHASE II Alternately, Phase II for Track B will scale up radiant power transfer system from Phase I in either power transfer capacity by either increasing the power per beam or increasing the number of transmit/receive nodes to demonstrate scalability. Theoretical limits for maximum power transfer or node quantity for proposed technical solution should be analyzed and substantiated through experimental data Schedule/Milestones/Deliverables Reports for the following activity should be submitted to DARPA at the end of the indicated performance period. Track A: Radiant energy storage track Track B: Radiant energy transfer track PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS |
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