Bromine chloride as a cathode component in lithium inorganic cells

Investigations were conducted on a Li inorganic battery system using BrCl and SOCl sub 2 as co-depolarizers. The Li/BrCl, SOCl sub 2 cell exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 3.90 plus/minus 0.02 V at room temperature. The discharge results of cells of various sizes showed that an energy density of 1 W.h/cm exp 3 is possible at low discharge rates at room temperature. The storage tests showed no significant capacity loss after a storage period of 15 months at ambient temperature of three months at 72 deg C. The cells were subjected to abuses such as short circuiting, forced overdischarge and charge. No hazard of any kind was encountered during these tests. In view of these results, it is concluded that Li/BrCl, SOCl sub 2 is a practical system for high energy density batteries.--AA.