New positive-electrode materials for lithium batteries

Current research in the lithium battery field combines the development of new synthesis methods with the discovery cathode materials that exhibit high energy storage capacity and electrochemical stability. For example, Ag2V4O11, or silver vanadium oxide (SVO), is used commercially as a cathode material in primary lithium batteries for high rate applications, such as those used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). A long-term goal of the medical battery industry is to increase the capacity of the cathode above 3 V while maintaining electrode stability. Low temperature hydrothermal techniques offer new routes to transition metal oxide fluorides, for example the new high silver density material Ag4V2O6F2 (SVOF) which was synthesized recently. The electrochemical behavior of SVOF and the significant impact new materials such as SVOF may have on the future generation of primary lithium batteries for ICDs will be highlighted