NOVEL SOLID ELECTROLYTES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

NOVEL CONCEPTS ARE PROPOSED TO PREPARE LI+-CONDUCTIVE SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTES WITH IONIC CONDUCTIVITIES OF THE ORDER OF 10-3 TO 10-2 OHM-L.CM-1 AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND BELOW. HIGH IONIC CONDUCTIVITY IN THESE ELECTROLYTES IS EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM THE USE OF ELECTROLYTE COMPONENTS WHICH ENHANCE THE MOBILITY AND CONCENTRATION OF THE IONIC CHARGE CARRIERS. THE SYNTHESIZED ELECTROLYTES WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY MEASURING THEIR CONDUCTIVITY IN THE -340C TO 250C RANGE AND EVALUATING THEIR PERFORMANCE IN LI/MNO2 SOLID-STATE CELLS. NEW SOLID ELECTROLYTES IDENTIFIED IN THIS RESEARCH CAN LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLID-STATE LI BATTERIES WITH HIGH-RATE DISCHARGE CAPABILITY AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF SOLID-STATE RECHARGEABLE LI BATTERIES INCLUDE PORTABLE RADIOS, COMPUTERS, CAMCORDERS, HANDHELD TOOLS AND, ULTIMATELY, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.