Rechargeable lithium-inorganic electrolyte cell. Quarterly report No. 1, 1 September 1989-30 November 1989

Because of its high energy density (225 Wh/lb), the lithium-sulfuryl chloride system has been studied extensively as an alternate of primary lithium-thionyl chloride electrochemical cells. Gilman and Wade examined the discharge characteristics of primary Li/SO2Cl2 cells in 1.5M LiAlCl4 electrolyte using different carbon cathodes and established the following reactions: 2 Li + SO2Cl2 yields SO2 + 2 LiCl. Based on cyclic voltammetry results and the work of Gilman and Wade, Behl concluded that the mechanism of cathodic reduction involved first the reduction of free chlorine resulting from the homogeneous and/or heterogeneous dissociation of sulfuryl chloride followed by the reduction of undissociated sulfuryl chloride. Klinedinst and Gary examined primary Li/SO2Cl2 system with LiGaCl4 electrolyte and observed relatively insignificant anode corrosion.