Polycarbonates, electrochemical activation

The active components of the cell are lithium for the anode and polycarbon monofluoride (CF) for the cathode. The value of is typically 0.9 to 1.2. Carbon monofluoride is an interstitial compound, formed by the reaction between carbon powder and fluorine gas. While electrochemically active, the material is chemically stable in the organic electrolyte and does not thermally decompose up to 400" C, resulting in a long storage life. Different electrolytes have been used typical electrolytes are lithium hexafluorarsenate (LiAsFg) in S-butyrolactone (GBL) or lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBFJ in propylene carbonate (PC) and dimethoxyethane (DME). 

The quantities of carbon stored in the form of atmospheric carbon dioxide, CO2 in the hydrosphere and carbonates in the terrestrial environment, substantially exceed those of fossil fuels. In spite of this, the industrial use of carbon dioxide as a source of chemical carbon is presently limited to preparation of urea and certain carboxylic acids as well as organic carbonates and polycarbonates. However, the situation is expected to change in the future, if effective catalytic systems allowing to activate carbon dioxide will become available. In this connection, the electrochemical reduction of CO2, requiring only an additional input of water and electrical energy, appears as an attractive possibility. 

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