7.10.11 Lithium Cells Lithium cells belong to primary cells. The cells having lithium anodes are called lithium calls, irrespective Of the cathode used. Lithium cells can be classified into two categories. Lithium Cells with Solid Cathodes b. Lithium Cells with Liquid Cathodes ‘a Lithium Cells with Solid Cathodes: These systems may have solid or liquid electrolyte. [Lithium ~ manganese dioxide is emerging as most widely used 3 volt solid cathode lithium ‘imary battery. The cathode MnO, should be heated to >300 °C to remove water before incorporating it in the cathode. This is very important to improve the efficiency of the cell. “The anodic and cathodic reactions are as follows. [Anodic reaction: Li > Lit + Cathodic reaction: Lit + xe + MnO.—> LiMn0, Net reaction: Li + Mn0.—> LiMn0, The electrolyte Applications: 1) The cylindrical cells ave used in fully automatic cameras. 2) The coin cells are widely used in electronic devices such as calculators and watches. '. Lithium Cells with Liquid Cathode: Among Lithium cells with liquid cathode is Hithiem salphurdioxide cell. The cosolvents used are either acrylonitrile or propylene carbonate or ‘mixture of the two with 50% by volume of SO, The cell reaction represents 2Li + 280. —> LiS.0, a mixture of propylene carbonatc and 1.2—dimethoxyethane. “The second type of this category is Lithium thionyl chloride cells, which consists of © high — surface area carbon cathode. a non-woven glass separator. Thionyl chloride acts as the clecuolyte solvent and the active cathode. The reactions of the cell can be represented & follows. @ scanned with OKEN Scanner¥ ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND CORROSION # Anodic reaction: Li» Lit + ¢- Cathodic reaction : 4Li + 4e + 2SOCL—> 4 LiCl + SO,+S Net reaction #4 Li + 2SOCl——> 4 LiCl + $0, +S Due to the nature of reaction Li-thionyl chloride cells possess very high energy density. The reaction involves two electrons per thionylchloride. Further the SO, liberated as product is a liquid under the internal pressure of the cell. No cosolvent is required for the solution as thionyl chloride is a liquid having moderate vapour pressure. The discharging voltage is 3.3-3.5 volts. Applications: 1. Owing to the excellent voltage control Li-SOCI, cells are used on electronic circuit boards for supplying fixed voltage for memory protection and other standby functions, + These cells are also used for military and space applications, - These cells are also used in medical devices such as neuro-stimulators, drug-delivery systems. © scanned with OKEN Scanner