Shelf life lithium thionyl chloride

Batteries for implantable medical devices are hermetically sealed. Hermetic seals have long been used for certain cell types, like lithium-sulfur dioxide and lithium-thionyl chloride, where long shelf life is important, or exposure to corrosive and toxic materials could result if the cell leaks. 

Lithium-thionyl-chloride batteries are most attractive for applications for which design objectives include an ultra-wide operating temperature range (from -55 to +150 C), high volumetric energy density, high pulse-power capability, and long shelf life. These batteries are widely used in commercial and consumer electronics, military communications, transportations, RFID, and memory backup. 

Anticipated improvements in lithium-thionyl chloride eells inelude the extension of the shelf life of low rate eells to more than 10 years by redueing anodie film disruption eaused by passivation. 

Lithium-thionyl chloride reserve cells have recently been introduced. They have the advantage of a 10-20 year shelf life. Military applications include missiles. 

High energy density batteries with long shelf life, developed originally for military use, are based on lithium and thionyl chloride. These batteries are used ia backup or standby power sources for computer, missile, and telephone systems (191,192). 

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