THERMALLY STABLE ELECTROLYTES FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

THE KEY PROBLEM INHIBITING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH ENERGY RECHARGEABLE LI BATTERIES IS THE POOR CYCLEABILITY OF THE LI ELECTRODE. ALTHOUGH MAJOR ADVANCES IN THIS TECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTROLLING LI-ELECTROLYTE REACTIVITY ARE STILL REQUIRED. SOLVENTS SUCH AS 2-METHYLTETRAHYDROFURAN, 2-METHYLFURAN, AND 3-METHYLSULFOLAN, ARE KNOWN TO BE STABLE TOWARD LI. HOWEVER, ALL OF THESE SOLVENTS MUST EMPLOY LIASF6 AS A SUPPORTING ELECTROLYTE TO ACHIEVE LI ELECTRODE CYCLING EFFICIENCIES IN EXCESS OF 98%. THIS SALT IS THERMALLY UNSTABLE IN PROTOTYPE BATTERIES, WHICH GREATLY LIMITS THE APPLICABILITY OF RECHARGEABLE LI TECHNOLOGY. THIS PROBLEM WILL BE ADDRESSED BY SYNTHESIZING AND PURIFYING SEVERAL NEW LI SALTS FOR EVALUATION IN SEVERAL ORGANIC SOLVENTS. THESE NEW ELECTROLYTES WILL UNDERGO A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL TESTS SO AS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THEIR USE IN RECHARGEABLE LI BATTERIES.