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Title: Improvements in Li(Si)/FeS/sub 2/ thermal battery technology

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5335125

Potential improvements in Li(Si)/FeS/sub 2/ thermal battery technology were evaluated using as the test vehicle a 28 +- 4-V, 400-cm/sup 3/ battery discharged through a 28-..cap omega.. load. Successful improvements included incorporating a catholyte additive to improve voltage regulation during discharge, changing the catholyte composition and blending procedure to increase life and current carrying capability, changing the anode composition to obtain better voltage regulation, and optimizing the heat and mass input. One end-of-life mechanism for higher current drain batteries was determined to be electrolytic freeze-out at the anode at temperatures that increase as the current density increases. The increase in freezing temperature was caused by a change in the K/sup +//Li/sup +/ ratio in the electrolyte near the anode as the anode discharged. A balanced ratio of cathode to anode weight was determined for the two catholytes and anode powders considered. The balance was based on electrode polarization at various resistive loads.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5335125
Report Number(s):
SAND-82-0565; ON: DE82017779
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English