RESEARCH ON ORGANIC DEPOLARIZERS

New organic compounds and systems that will lead to organic-depolarized primary cells with higher voltages and capacities than the present Mg/MgBr2/m-DNB (dinitrobenzene) systems are under development. Cathode measurements were made with a modified Kordesch-Marko bridge to determine the ohmic contribution to the total polarization. Cell resistance increases continuously during reduction of nitroarometic compounds. The major cause of this appears to be a change in electro lyte composition and concentration during opera tion. The use of electrolytes containing magnesns caused the cell resistance to rise much more rapidly than when ammonium cations were present. Initial discharge potential was correlated with Hammett sigma constants. Of the new depolarizers tested, t-butylperbenzoate and t-butylperacetate reduced with high efficiency and polarized less than peroxides previously tested. Polymeric perbromides reduced with high efficiency. Nitrated polystyrene did not reduce. (Author)