The electrochemistry of nitrate—amide melts: The effects of melt acidity on the discharge characteristics of lithium anodes in room temperature nitrat

✍ Scribed by G.E. McManis; A.N. Fletcher; D.E. Bliss; M.H. Miles

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 600 KB
• Volume: 31
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0013-4686
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-4686(86)80147-5

✦ Synopsis

Lithium anodes immersed in "neutral" nitrate-amide melts rapidly form a relatively stable passivating film. Lithium anodes polarize rapidly on the application of current densities greater than approximately 0.5 mAcmm2. The addition of small amounts of Br$nsted-Lowry acids causes rapid depassivation. Once the added acid is consumed, the anode once again passivates. In highly acidic melts, the lithium anode corrodes at a rapid rate with the evolution of NH,, along with smaller amounts of N,O, CO, and H,O. Current densities of l-10 mA cnmz can be applied with minimal anodic polarization in the acidic melts. Test cells have shown that discharge lifetime and cell voltage/current density profiles are also regulated by melt acidity. Simple test cells using lithium anodes and cerium(IV) cathodes that have open circuit voltages greater than 4 V and that can be discharged at current densities of 0.1 mA cm-* with minima1 polarization have been demonstrated.