NEW TURBOSTRATIC MESOCARBON MICROBEADS AND LOW TEMPERATURE ELECTROLYTES FOR LIxC6/LIXCO02 CELLS

The Navy requires high energy density batteries to power underwater vehicles. The Li/LiX Co O2 cell has been identified as a promising redox couple for this particular application. A formidable stumbling block to the advancement of this technology resides in the inability of non-aqueous electrolytes -to enable the anode to be charged without Li dendrite formation -to withstand the highly anodic potentials required by the cathode on charge In order to circumvent these problems, we have identified two new turbostratic mesocarbons which will be substituted for the Li anode during Phase I. In addition, we will test two new high rate electrolytes which should provide both a high anodic window with good low temperature performance. The combination of a mesocarbon anode with high rate electrolytes is expected to advance rechargable LiX C6/LiX Co O2 battery technology, specifically for U.S. Navy application.