HIGH RATE POLYMER ELECTROLYTE-BASED RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

FOR CONSUMER APPLICATIONS IN PARTICULAR, ALL SOLID STATE RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM (LI) BATTERIES BASED ON POLYMER ELECTROLYTES OFFER SAFETY, HIGH ENERGY DENSITY, EXCELLENT SHELF LIFE, AND RELIABILITY. THE KEY IMPEDIMENT PRECLUDING THEIR INTRODUCTION INTO THE MARKETPLACE IS POOR ELECTROLYTE CONDUCTIVITY: THE CELL MUST OPERATE IN THE 80 DEGREES TO 100 DEGREES CENTIGRADE RANGE. BY COMBINING A NEW HIGHLY CONDUCTING AND PLASTICIZING LITHIUM SALT IN A POLYETHYLENE OXIDE-POLYPHOS-PHAZENE MATRIX WITH THIN FILM ORIENTED MICROSTRUCTURAL TIS2 CATHODES, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER DISCHARGE RATES MAY BE OBTAINED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. IN PHASE I, THE NEW POLYMER ELECTROLYTE COMPLEX WILL BE SYNTHESIZED AND PURIFIED. IT WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY AC IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY, FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY, AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. THIN FILM LI/TIS2 CELLS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED USING THE NEW ELECTROLYTE,AND CYCLING CHARACTERISTICS AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE ANDRATE WILL BE ASSESSED.