Stability of a vitreous electrolyte for possible use in high-temperature lithium/sulfur cells

Conference · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5824157

Smith, M L; Winnick, J; McLarnon, F R; Cairns, E J

A family of lithium-borate glasses has been identified by H. Tuller and coworkers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as candidate electrolytes for use in high-temperature Li/S cells. Based upon screening tests, a glass composition (mol%) of 26% Li/sub 2/O-7% Li/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/-67% B/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was selected to exhibit an acceptable ionic conductivity of 3 x 10/sup -3/ ohm/sup -1/cm/sup -1/ at 400/sup 0/C, Tg = 475/sup 0/C, resistance to attack by S at 400/sup 0/C, and minimal attack by Li at 350/sup 0/C. A procedure was developed to form and seal glass tubes, and LiSn/glass/S cells were operated at various temperatures. It was possible to charge and discharge cells at current densities up to 70 mA/cm/sup 2/ (for 1 to 3 min) or 20 mA/cm/sup 2/ (for several hours) into the two-phase S-Li/sub 2/S/sub x/ region, but the electrolyte tended to fail when the cell was recharged from near the two-phase/single-phase boundary at approx.73 mol% S. The charge-discharge curves also exhibited hysteresis effects, and a crystalline reaction layer was observed on the S side of the electrolyte tubes. X-ray diffraction analyses suggested that the reaction layer contained crystalline lithium-borate compounds, and static immersion tests showed that the glass was slowly attacked by polysulfides at the 400/sup 0/C cell operating temperature.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5824157
• Report Number(s): LBL-20497; CONF-8604116-3; ON: DE86011563
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BATTERY CHARGING
BORATES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
GLASS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLID ELECTROLYTES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS