A NEW LITHIUM/BROMINE SOLUBLE CATHODE RECHARGEABLE CELL

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CONSTRUCT, CYCLE, AND EVALUATE PROTOTYPES OF THE TITLE CELL USING A NEWLY DISCOVERED ELECTROLYTE/SOLVENT SYSTEM WITH HIGH CONDUCTIVITY AND LOW FREEZING POINT WHICH IS CAPABLE OF ABSORBING LARGE QUANTITIES OF BROMINE WITHOUT DISSOLVING LITHIUM BROMIDE OR POLYBROMIDES. THE ELECTROLYTE IS THUS AT LEAST SUPERFICIALLY STABLE AGAINST METALLIC LITHIUM, WHICH WOULD BE EXPECTED TO FORM A COATING OF LITHIUM BROMIDE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE ELECTROLYTE. EXPERIMENTAL CELLS HAVE SHOWN THE THERMODYNAMICALLY PREDICTED OPEN CIRCUIT POTENTIAL OF 3.52 VOLTS, WHICH WOULD INDICATE A MINIMAL CORROSION RATE, AND THAT THE LITHIUM BROMIDE SALT FILM IS ACTING AS AN EFFECTIVE SOLID ELECTROLYTE INTERPHASE. THE EXPERIMENTAL CELLS HAVE EFFICIENTLYDISCHARGED AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT RATES EXCEEDING 5MA/CM(2). IN THIS PROGRAM, WE PROPOSE TO TEST SEVERAL SOLVENTS BELONGING TO THE SAME CLASS OF COMPOUNDS AS THE ONE WHICH SHOWED PROMISE IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CELLS. WE WOULD MEASURE CAPACITY AND CYCLE LIFE AT 100% DEPTH OF DISCHARGE IN WOUND HERMETIC AA CELLS AT UP TO 5MA/CM(2), TEST RESISTANCE TO OVERCHARGE AND OVERDISCHARGE, AND MAKE A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATION OF SHELF LIFE BY STORING AT UP TO 55 DEG C.