Lithium Organic Liquid Electrolyte Batteries

Abstract

Lithium organic liquid electrolyte batteries have gained considerable importance recently as high energy density power sources for a variety of terrestrial and space applications (1). Commercially available organic liquid electrolyte primary batteries include Li/S02, Li/V5O5, Li/(CF)x, Li/MnO2, Li/FeS2, Li/CuS and Li/CuO. Prototypes of organic liquid electrolyte secondary batteries such as Li/TiS2 and Li/MoS2 have also become available recently (2, 3). All of these chemical couples, except the Li/S02 system, deal with solid cathodes making it possible for them to form the basis of solid state batteries also. Why is it, then, that there is a great deal of interest in organic liquid electrolyte batteries? The latter offer several advantages over their solid state counterparts. These include higher rate capabilities than solid state systems and a wider temperature range of operation, for example, between −40 and +70°C. Characteristics, such as discharge rate capability, low temperature discharge behavior, self-discharge rate and shelf-life of most liquid electrolyte Li batteries, are largely determined by the properties of the liquid electrolytes they contain. A variety of solutions composed of different organic solvent-inorganic Li salt combinations have been employed in various primary and secondary Li batteries.