Low temperature alkali metal-sulfur batteries. Final report, December 1, 1974-November 30, 1978
Work on the development of rechargeable, ambient-temperature Li/sulfur and Li/metal sulfide batteries is reported. The Li/S system has the cathode material dissolved in the electrolyte, as Li/sub 2/S/sub n/. Tetrahydrofuran, 1M LiAsF/sub 6/, is one of the more attractive electrolytes discovered for this cell, since it can dissolve up to approx. 10M S as Li/sub 2/Sn. Despite the oxidative nature of the electrolyte, Li is stable in it and can be electrodeposited from it on battery charge. Cells of the configuration Li 5M S (as Li/sub 2/S/sub n/), THF, 1M LiAsF/sub 6//carbon can be discharged at 50/sup 0/C with a utilization of nearly 1.5e/sup -//S at the C/3 rate. This corresponds to the rate-capacity goal for this battery in its proposed vehicular or load-leveling applications. Further improvements in rate are possible. Rechargeability of 135 cycles of 0.1 e/sup -//S and approx. 45 cycles of 0.5 e/sup -//S was demonstrated. The self-discharge reaction keeps the Li electrode free of electrically isolated dendrites. Ultimate failure on cycling is due to cathode depletion via precipitation of Li/sub 2/S on the anode in a form insoluble in the electrolyte. Attempts to solubilize the Li/sub 2/S by the internal generation of an oxidizing scavenger (e.g., Br/sub 2/) or by addition of Lewis acids have met only with limited success. Cells of configuration Li/THF, 1M LiAsF/sub 6//insoluble metal sulfide were investigated, using the following cathodes: CuS, NiS, SiS/sub 2/, MnS/sub 2/, FeS, and Bi/sub 2/S/sub 3/. Of these, the most promising new material in terms of energy density and rechargeability is CuS. Well over 100 cycles for Li/CuS cells with moderate cathode loadings were demonstrated. CuS compares favorably with TiS/sub 2/ in terms of energy density and rechargeability and is superior in terms of economics. 39 figures, 19 tables.
- Research Organization:
- EIC Corp., Newton, MA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ET25003
- OSTI ID:
- 6941387
- Report Number(s):
- COO-2520-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
PERFORMANCE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ARSENIC FLUORIDES
COPPER SULFIDES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAILURES
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM SULFIDES
SULFIDES
TETRAHYDROFURAN
TITANIUM SULFIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
COPPER COMPOUNDS
DATA
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY STORAGE
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FURANS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STORAGE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES
250901* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development