Electrochemical Behavior of Water in Immobilized Salt Electrolytes I. Electrical Conductivity and Thermal Measurements

The mean ing of moisture content of a pelletized L iC I-KC I-MgO mixture is discussed in terms of different states of interaction in wh ich water may exist in the specimen. Accord ing to electrical conductivity measurements, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetr ic exper iments in the ambient to-400 ~ range, water comes off the pellet by an endothermic process that involves the migrat ion of water to the surface of the pellet where it vaporizes (T = 25~176 Exothermic reactions involving oxide ions and traces of water and hydrogen chloride are suggested to exist in the 130~176 range. This is fol lowed (T> 250 ~ by a hydrolytic and endothermic reaction, wh ich converts chloride ions to hydrox ide ions and hydrogen chloride. The investigation of water in pelletized L iC I-KC I-MgO mixtures is of interest for the deve lopment of pr imary as well as secondary batteries for load leveling and electric vehicle applications. The presence of water as well as contaminants fo rmed near the electrodes dur ing expo-sure to humid air could affect cell per fo rmance and accel-erate self-discharge (i)