Lithium-organic cells

Table 4.1 Properties of some solvents commonly used in lithium-organic cells (at 25°C unless otherwise stated)... 

Some successful development of rechargeable solid state systems was achieved by using lithium intercalation cathodes, such as TiS2, which operate in exactly the same manner as in the lithium-organic cells described in Chapter 7. One example of this type of cell is provided by the battery system developed in the 1970s by P. R. Mallory and Co. (now Duracell) based on the following scheme ... 

Lithium organic cells offer higher energy density, superior cold temperature performance, longer active life and greater cost effectiveness. 

A typical lithium-ion cell consists of a positive electrode composed of a thin layer of powdered metal oxide (e.g., LiCo02) mounted on aluminum foil and a negative electrode formed from a thin layer of powdered graphite, or certain other carbons, mounted on a copper foil. The two electrodes are separated by a porous plastic film soaked typically in LiPFe dissolved in a mixture of organic solvents such as ethylene carbonate (EC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), or diethyl carbonate (DEC). In the charge/ discharge process, lithium ions are inserted or extracted from the interstitial space between atomic layers within the active materials. 

Development efforts are under way to displace the use of microporous membranes as battery separators and instead use gel electrolytes or polymer electrolytes. Polymer electrolytes, in particular, promise enhanced safety by eliminating organic volatile solvents. The next two sections are devoted to solid polymer and gel polymer type lithium-ion cells with focus on their separator/electrolyte requirements. 

A number of cylindrical and flat magnesium-based cells have been developed on a commercial scale, mainly for military applications where high discharge currents and low unit weight are important. However, for most of these applications, magnesium batteries have now been replaced by various lithium/organic systems. There are no commercial aluminium-based Leclanchd cells. Magnesium and aluminium are both exploited as anodes in metal-air cells which are considered below. 

To what extent can the example of a solid exoskeleton be replicated in the laboratory Going against most contemporary examples of flexible artificial cells, Muller and Rehder published an example of a complex molybdenum oxide that spontaneously forms discrete nanospheres [23], The hollow spheres were porous and allowed lithium cations to pass through the exoskeleton. While this a perhaps an extreme example of what may be considered an artificial cell, the authors assert that the presence of ion selective channels through the encapsulating oxide is directly analogous to natural ion channels in organic cells. 

Lazzari, M., and Scrosati, B. (1980). Cyclable lithium organic electrolyte cell based on 2 intercalation electrodes. J. Electrochem. Soc., 127. pp. 773-774. 

Section 2.5 reviews papers on lithium and lithium-ion cells using sulfur-containing organic solvents, including sulfide, sulfoxide, sulfone, sulfite, sulfonate, and sulfate. Particularly, the performance of sulfones such as ethyl methyl sulfone and sulfolane as electrolyte solvents for high-voltage cells is introduced. 

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