Design of Primary Lithium Cells

The actual positive electrode in cells with a liquid oxidant is made of an inert porous carbon material, on the surface of which cathodic processes (11.9)-(11.11) occur. 

The cells of the lithium-iodine system stand somewhat apart. In such cells, the oxidant is not elementary iodine as such, but it is complex with poly-2-vinylpyridine [CH2CH(C5H5N)] (P2VP). Its composition can be expressed as P2VP ml2. The content of iodine in the complex decreases under discharge, and solid lithium iodide is formed  

Solid lithium iodide is used in the cells of the lithium-iodine system. Its specific conductivity at the room temperature is several pS/cm. Such cells are characterized by very long-term discharge (years) with very low currents (tens of pA). 

The oxidant is apart of liquid electrolyte in the cells of the lithium-thionyl chloride and lithium-sulfuryl chloride systems. In the first case, such oxidant electrolyte is the lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlC ) solution in pure thionyl chloride or in thionyl chloride with a sulfur dioxide additive in the second case, it is the solution of the same salt in sulfuryl chloride. 

Individual cells with a lithium anode are designed with the capacity of about 1/20 to 20 Ah. Such cells are released both in conventional nominal sizes (AAA, AA, C, D) and in original alternates, which prevents their assembly in equipment designed for manganese-zinc cells or nickel-cadmium batteries. Nonstandard tabs in the form of flat blades, axial acicular pins, and so on are usually provided in lithium cells to eliminate the possibility of the application of a 3 V lithium cell instead of a 1.5 V 

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