Lithium-Thionyl Chloride Battery.

This report describes the LiSOCl2 inorganic electrolyte system, which is the highest energy density system known to date. It consists of a Li anode, a carbon cathode and SOCl2 which acts both as a solvent and as a cathode active material. The electrolyte salt that has been used most extensively is LiAlCl4, but salts such as Li2B10Cl10 and Li2OAlCl32 have also been used successfully in this system for improving the shelf life characteristics. The main objective of this program is to develop high rate LiSOCl2 cells and batteries for portable applications of the U. S. Army. The cells and batteries must deliver higher energy densities than are presently available and must be safe to handle under U. S. Army field conditions.