Investigation of lithium thionyl chloride battery safety hazards. Final technical report Sep 81-Nov 82
The chemistry of discharge and overdischarge in Li/SOCl/sub 2/ cells has been examined with Raman emission, Fourier transform infrared, and electron spin resonance spectroscopies to determine if any hazardous reactions can occur. Under moderate discharge rate at room temperature, the electrolyte from discharged and cathode limited overdischarged cells contains primarily LiAlCl/sub 4/.3 SO/sub 2/, LiAlCl.2 SOCl/sub 2/, and perhaps LiAlCl/sub 4/.SOCl/sub 2/.SO/sub 2/; traces of SO/sub 3/ are indicated. Three free radicals are present at low concentrations on discharge and cathode limited overdischarged with two additional radicals appearing on extended anode limited overdischarge. At least one of these is cationic polymeric sulfur. Both FTIR and ESR suggest intermediates exist with lifetimes on the order of days from discharge and overcharge. No hazardous reactions were observed at anytime. Pressure from SO/sub 2/, a principal result of discharge, remains low due to the LiAlCl/sub 4/.3 SO/sub 2/, complex in solution. Scanning electron and optical microscopic investigations lithium dendrite structure. Individual dendrites do not grow any longer than about 50 microns or any thicker that about four microns in diameter before branching at random angles. The extent of dendritic growth and the fate of the dentrites depends on the discharge conditions. No overcharged hazards were encountered in this study though several hazard scenarios suggested themselves.
- Research Organization:
- GTE Communications Products Corp., Waltham, MA (USA). Power Systems Operation
- OSTI ID:
- 5672209
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-129302/6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
250901* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INFRARED SPECTRA
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
LITHIUM-CHLORINE BATTERIES
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
RESONANCE
SAFETY
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES