Atmospheric corrosion of lithium electrodes

Conference · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Proc. - Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7067240

Johnson, C J

Atmospheric corrosion of lithium during lithium-cell assembly and the dry storage of cells prior to electrolyte fill has been found to initiate lithium corrosion pits and to form corrosion products. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate lithium pitting and the white floccullent corrosion products. Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) and Auger spectroscopy in combination with X-ray diffraction were used to characterize lithium surfaces. Lithium surfaces with corrosion products were found to be high in carbonate content indicating the presence of lithium carbonate. Lithium electrodes dry stored in unfilled batteries were found to contain high concentration of lithium flouride a possible corrosion product from gaseous materials from the carbon monofluoride cathode. Future investigations of the corrosion phenomena will emphasize the effect of the corrosion products on the electrolyte and ultimate battery performance. The need to protect lithium electrodes from atmospheric exposure is commonly recognized to minimize corrosion induced by reaction with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide or nitrogen (1). Manufacturing facilities customarily limit the relative humidity to less than two percent. Electrodes that have been manufactured for use in lithium cells are typically stored in dry-argon containers. In spite of these precautions, lithium has been found to corrode over a long time period due to residual gases or slow diffusion of the same into storage containers. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the nature of the lithium corrosion.

• Research Organization: Boeing Aerospace Company, Seattle, Washington
• OSTI ID: 7067240
• Report Number(s): CONF-811013-
• Journal Information: Proc. - Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 83-1; Conference: Electrochemical Society conference, Denver, CO, USA, 11 Oct 1981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
LITHIUM
CORROSION
LITHIUM-CHLORINE BATTERIES
ELECTRODES
LITHIUM-COPPER CHLORIDE BATTERIES
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
LITHIUM-WATER-AIR BATTERIES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORROSION PRODUCTS
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
WATER
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SPECTROSCOPY
250903* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries