Some Chemistry in the Li/SOCI Cell

Cyclic voltammetry and constant current electrolysis studies of SOCIs/ LiAlC14 solutions showed that SOeCI~, SOCI+AICI4-, SC12, AICI~, and C12 are produced as oxidation products. Mechanisms of oxidation reactions are pro-posed to explain the formation of these products. Forced overdischarge of cathode limited cells produces Li2S which reacts with LiAICl4 present in the cell to form LiAISC12. Materials formed in anode limited cells during forced overdischarge include SOsCI2, SC12, C12, SOCI+AICI4-, AIC13, and a substance with infrared absorption at 1070 cm-I. "Charging " of Li/SOCI2 cells involves regenerative processes so that only small amounts of products ac-cumulate in the cell. The Li/SOCI2 primary cell has received considerable research and development interest (1-20) ever since the initial reports on its discovery appeared (1, 2). The cell consists of a Li anode, an inert carbon cath-ode comprising porous carbon with binder on an Ni screen, and SOC12/LiAICI4 solution serving both as the solvent and depolarizer. Cell discharge reactions which satisfactorily explain previous analytical data from this laboratory (14), the studies of Dey and co-workers (7), and the recent results of Schlaikjer and co-workers (13) ar