Nonaqueous electrochemical cell
First Claim
1. A nonaqueous cell comprising an active metal anode, a cathode collector and an ionically conductive cathode-electrolyte solution containing a solute dissolved in at least one liquid oxyhalide of an element of Group V or Group VI of the Periodic Table, the improvement comprising incorporating into said cathode-electrolyte at least one sulfurcontaining member represented by the formula Mx Sy Yz wherein M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, S is sulfur and Y is chlorine or bromine and wherein x is an integer having a value of 0 to 2, y is an integer having a value of 1 to 14, and z is an integer having a value of 0 to 2, with the proviso that when z is other than 0 then x is 0, that when x is other than 0 then z is 0, when x and z are 0 and the oxyhalide employed does not form sulfur as a cell discharge product, then the sulfur incorporated in the cathode-electrolyte is from 1 weight percent based on the weight of the cathode-electrolyte up to the quantity of sulfur that will dissolve in the cathode-electrolyte at ambient temperature and pressure, and that when x or z are other than 0, then the sulfur-containing member is incorporated in the cathode-electrolyte contains sulfur in an amount between about 0.05 and about 10 weight percent based on the weight of the cathode-electrolyte.
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Abstract
A non-aqueous cell comprising an active metal anode, such as lithium, a liquid cathode-electrolyte comprising a solute dissolved in a solvent which is an oxyhalide of an element of Group V or Group VI of the Periodic Table and wherein elemental sulfur or a sulfur compound is incorporated into the cathode-electrolyte so as to substantially eliminate initial voltage delay of the cell during discharge.
29 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A nonaqueous cell comprising an active metal anode, a cathode collector and an ionically conductive cathode-electrolyte solution containing a solute dissolved in at least one liquid oxyhalide of an element of Group V or Group VI of the Periodic Table, the improvement comprising incorporating into said cathode-electrolyte at least one sulfurcontaining member represented by the formula Mx Sy Yz wherein M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, S is sulfur and Y is chlorine or bromine and wherein x is an integer having a value of 0 to 2, y is an integer having a value of 1 to 14, and z is an integer having a value of 0 to 2, with the proviso that when z is other than 0 then x is 0, that when x is other than 0 then z is 0, when x and z are 0 and the oxyhalide employed does not form sulfur as a cell discharge product, then the sulfur incorporated in the cathode-electrolyte is from 1 weight percent based on the weight of the cathode-electrolyte up to the quantity of sulfur that will dissolve in the cathode-electrolyte at ambient temperature and pressure, and that when x or z are other than 0, then the sulfur-containing member is incorporated in the cathode-electrolyte contains sulfur in an amount between about 0.05 and about 10 weight percent based on the weight of the cathode-electrolyte.
Specification