Lithium--water--air battery project: progress during the months of May--July

Technical Report · Tue Aug 16 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7092262· OSTI ID:7092262

Cooper, J. F.; Hosmer, P. K.; Krikorian, O.

The abstract is included of a published report which outlines the potential role of metal/air fuel cells in automotive transportation. The energy and dolar cost of metal/air fuel cell systems is estimated, with emphasis given to the energy and dollar cost of aluminum production. Only aluminum, lithium, and (possibly) calcium are capable of providing the power for a full-performance electric vehicle, while aluminum is most favorable from the standpoint of economics. The electrochemistry of the calcium electrode appears to be similar to that of lithium, although the use of an aggressive anion (chloride) is necessary to prevent rapid passivation of the anode. Faradaic efficiencies were found to approach 100 percent close to the diffusion-limited dissolution conditions, as in the case of lithium. However, electrode polarizations of about 1.5 V under such conditions would produce an energy efficiency of discharge of about 40 percent. The two-stage electrolysis process, proposed for the efficient production of lithium, was subjected to further experimental verification. Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 95 percent were obtained for the formation of Li(Hg) from aqueous LiOH at temperatures up to 56/sup 0/C at 75 mA/cm/sup 2/. Concentrations of Li in Hg were obtained which exceeded the liquidus solubility limit by a factor of four without serious loss of efficiency. The solubility of mercury in the candidate fused salt was determined and found to be acceptably low: 250 ppM. 5 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7092262
• Report Number(s): UCID-17426-77-5.6.7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250901* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
ALKALI METALS
ALLOYS
ANODES
CALCIUM ALLOYS
CHEMISTRY
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM
LITHIUM-WATER-AIR BATTERIES
LYSIS
MATERIALS
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METALS
PASSIVATION
POLARIZATION
PRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS