Lithium anode film and organic and inorganic electrolyte batteries

Abstract

The performance characteristics of Li/CuS, Li/V 2O 5, Li/Ag 2CrO 4, Li/(CF x ) n , Li/SO 2 and Li/SOCl 2 high energy density primary battery systems are reviewed in this paper. All these batteries suffer from a common ailment known as voltage delay which results in a temporary voltage depression on load, particularly after prolonged high temperature storage and low temperature testing. This is due to the presence of a protective film on the Li. The film is responsible for the apparent stability of Li in the non-aqueous electrolytes in spite of its thermodynamic instability. The Li films were characterized in some of the above systems. The morphology and the growth characteristic of a LiCl film on Li in the SOCl 2 inorganic electrolytes were studied in some detail and are discussed in this review. Significant improvements in the voltage delay problem were accomplished as a result of these studies. It is particularly gratifying to note that some of the Li batteries, e.g. Li/Ag 2CrO 4 and Li/SO 2, are now being commercially manufactured for various military and consumer applications, and as such the Li batteries are here to stay.