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Title: Organic electrolyte permselective membranes. Report No. 4 (final), 1 Apr 68--15 Sep 70. [Li--Cu halide cells]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7113380

Experiments were performed to assess the value of various commercial and specially-prepared membranes as separators in batteries containing electrolytes dissolved in propylene carbonate (PC). Specifically, these membranes should prevent self-discharge of lithium--copper halide cells. Since literature data suggest that self-discharge is caused by transport of anionic copper complexes to the lithium electrode, the separators selected were primarily cation-exchange membranes, which are known to exclude anions in aqueous solutions. Selective permeability for anions was tested by a variety of electrolyte diffusion, interdiffusion and transport number measurements. It was established that most commercial cation-exchange membranes have high resistances in PC, but three membranes with resistances less than 250 ohms sq cm in 0.50 M LiClO4/PC at 25 C were found, viz. C-322 (American Machine and Foundry Co., Stamford, Conn. - 117 ohm sq cm), UM-05 (Amicon Corp., Lexington, Mass. - 230 ohm sq cm) and 7930 Porous Glass (Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y. - 75 ohms sq cm). In order to combine the advantages of cation selectivity with low resistance, laminated membranes consisting of thin layers of phenolsulfonic acid--formaldehyde cation-exchange membranes on porous inert supports were prepared and tested. The data indicate that anion-barrier membranes of low resistance can be prepared by further developing this method. (auth)

Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Sea Water Conversion Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
DAAB07-67-C-0590
OSTI ID:
7113380
Report Number(s):
AD-882890
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also AD--859386
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English