CHEMICALLY MODIFIED CARBONS FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

CARBON ELECTRODES ARE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF HIGH ENERGY DENSITY LI/SOCL(2) AND LI/SO(2)CL(2) PRIMARY BATTERY SYSTEMS. RATE CAPABILITY AND POLARIZATION BEHAVIOR OF THE ELECTRODE IS EXPECTED TO BE ENHANCED BY SPECIFIC PRETREATMENTS OF THE CARBON. FACTORS KNOWN TO INFLUENCE THE CARBON'S PERFORMANCE ARE SURFACE AREA, POROSITY AND PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION, THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, AND WETTABILITY BY THE OXYHALIDE AND ELECTROLYTE. THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES SPECIFIC CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENTS OF CARBONS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE RATE PERFORMANCE, SPECIFIC CAPACITY AND SHELFLIFE OF THE BATTERY. THE GOAL IS A DELIVERABLE BATTERY CAPABLE OF PROVIDING OVER 400 WATT-HOURS/POUND OR 25 WATT HOURS/CUBIC INCH AT THE100 HOUR RATE OR SLOWER DISCHARGES, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN STORAGE CAPABILITY.