Copper lithium batteries

An example of this latter application is that of Pletcher and his coworkers [29] into the deposition of lithium in ether solvents. This system is of particular interest in view of its relevance to lithium battery studies. At conventional electrodes, it is difficult to study transient behaviour because the electrode solution is so resistive but, as shown, in Fig. 16 studies at microelectrodes are very effective. This figure shows a series of current-time transients for the deposition of lithium on 40 /zm radius copper disc electrodes and no problems were encountered from either iRu drop or charging currents. Some might question the relevance of microelectrode studies at very low currents to technological systems such as batteries but it must be remembered that, whilst the currents are small, the current densities involved are, in fact, quite large. 

Shin HC, Liu M (2005) Three-dimensional porous copper-tin alloy electrodes for rechargeable lithium batteries. Adv Funct Mater 15 582-586... 

Huang, W. Xia, X. Wang, Y. Xu, C. Zhu, W Qian, L. Preparation of ultratfain electrolytic copper foil for lithium battery. Faming Zhuanfi Shenqing Gongkai Shuomingshu CN 1563502, 2005 Chem. Abstr. 2005,144, 282223. 

JAC 14] Jache B., Mogwitz B., Klein F. et al, Copper sulfides for rechargeable lithium batteries linking cycling stabihty to electrolyte composition , J. Power Sources, vol. 247, no. 1, pp. 703-711, 2014. 

For chemicals, lithium carbonate is the best raw material. Preparing the carbonate from spodumene is an energy-intensive and costly process. Because of that most lithium carbonate production has shifted to chemical treatment of brines. Lithium metal is obtained by electrolysis of a salt melt containing 55% lithium chloride and 45% potassium chloride, a mixture that melts at 352°C. The metal is rolled into thin foils that can used as anodes in lithium batteries, but it can also be plated onto foils of copper or nickel. 

FIGURE 14.87 Lithium/copper oxide batteries (Matsushita Electric Corp. of America.) (b) Cylindrical battery, bobbin construction. (Courtesy of SAFT America, Inc.)... 

TABLE 14.24 Characteristics of Lithium/Copper Oxide Batteries... 

T. lijima, Y. Toyoguchi, J. Nishimura, and H. Ogawa, Button-Type Lithium Battery Using Copper Oxide as a Cathode, J. Fewer Sources 5 1 (1980), Elsevier Sequoia, Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Oyama N, Pope JM, Sotomura T (1997) Effects of adding copper(II) salt to organosulfur cathodes for rechargeable lithium batteries. J Electroehem Soc 144(4) L47-L51... 

Figure 8. 3-D copper-tin electro-deposits with graded pore size. Reprodueed from H.-C. Shin and M. Liu, Three-Dimensional Porous Copper-Tin Alloy Electrodes for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries, Adv. Fund. Mater. 15 (2005) 582. Copyright (2005) with permission from Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA.

Like any common batteries, lithium batteries will rupture if exposed to fire. The low-rate lithium batteries, intended for watches, should be safe if used within manufacturers specified temperatures. Thick separators in these low-rate cells prevent shorting and their small size permits easy heat dissipation if any local internal reactions should occur. In fact, a good case can be made that most low-rate lithium cells are safer than zinc-mercury cells, which can introduce poisonous mercury into the atmosphere when incinerated. SAFI supply lithium-copper oxide... 

SAFT supply this type of battery. The particular advantages claim for lithium-copper oxide batteries are long operating life, long shelf life (up to 10 years projected) and high operating temperature (tested between — 20 and - -50°C). Volumetric capacity (Ah/dm ) is 750 compared with 300 for alkaline manganese dioxide, 400 for mercury-zinc and 500 for lithium—sulphur... 

The lithium-copper oxide battery has two special characteristics. Its initial voltage is approximately 2 V, but when fully loaded it drops to a flat 1.5 V. Thus it can be used as a direct replacement for carbon and alkaline cells. (Most other lithium batteries have voltages from 2.8 to 3.5 V.) Lithium-copper oxide also has a wide temperature range, spanning —55 to -H25°C. Although it is not the highest performance lithium combination, its voltage and temperature characteristics permit applications in specific niches. 

The lithium-copper oxide battery has applications in power well lagging equipment, microprocessors, public address systems, high-temperature heat counters, CMOS memory protection, telex systems, high-temperature devices, and specialized industrial and military applications. 

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