Korean battery giant LG Chem is to make a giant leap into a new application for its lithium-ion technology following a deal with NASA.
The company’s batteries will be used in spacesuits following successful internal short-circuit (ISC) stability tests by Nasa.
The company said this marks the first such deal for Korea and could pave the way for wider use of their technology in aerospace and military sectors.
The key to LG beating rival battery manufacturers in Korea and Japan was its patented stability-reinforced separator technology, said the firm.
“The ISC device test has proved that LG Chem’s battery has excellent energy density, stability and lifespan and thus is the most optimal option for NASA’s space suits,” a Nasa official told the Korean Times.
LG Chem already supplies batteries for the automotive industry, and recently won a deal to move into the hybrid ship sector.
The batteries will be used to power life-support equipment in the space exploration suits, including Oxygen supply, telecom and the radiation detector, said an official from LG Chem.
