Molten salt electrolytes for high-temperature lithium cells
Abstract
The high-temperature lithium cells under study at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) utilize either Li-Al, Li-Si, or Li-Al-Si negative electrodes; FeS, FeS2, or (Ni, Fe)S2 positive electrodes; and a molten salt electrolyte. The cells operate in the temperature range of 400-475 C, depending on the electrolyte composition and choice of positive electrode. At present, Gould Inc. is fabricating and testing prismatic Li-Al-SiFeS cells, and ANL is evaluating both cylindrical and prismatic designs for the Li-AlFeS2 cell. In the past, the bulk of the research and development effort on the lithium sulfide cells emphasized the Li-AlFeS over the Li-AlFeS2 system because of the poor capacity retention of the Li-AlFeS2 system and the cost of the current collector materials associated with the FeS2 electrode. However, because the Li-AlFeS2 system has the potential of yielding cells with higher specific energy and power than those obtainable with the Li-AlFeS system, it is now receiving greater attention. In the paper, we will review the importance of the molten salt electrolyte in the performance of the Li-AlFeS system and the recent breakthroughs in capacity retention achieved with this system.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the 4th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988liba.meet.....V
- Keywords:
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- Electric Batteries;
- High Temperature;
- Lithium;
- Molten Salt Electrolytes;
- Electrochemical Cells;
- Storage Batteries;
- Sulfides;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering