Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Narayan Doddapaneni

David L Chua

James D Jensen

Gerald F Hoff

Exothermic reactions at elevated temperatures in high rate non-aqueous active metal electrochemical cells which include an alkali metal anode, an electrolyte system including an electrolyte salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent depolarizer, by the provision of a reaction limiting positive electrode material which includes an amount of carbon black, an amount of binder and an amount of ceramic material, said ceramic material being substantially unreactive with other cell species below a predetermined temperature but capable of reacting to form substantially inactive products with the metal of the anode material at or above the predetermined temperature.

Safety cathode for non-aqueous electrochemical cell

Improved catalysts for the reduction of oxyhalide depolarizers such as SOCl.sub.2 and SO.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 in active-metal non-aqueous cells are provided which are easier to prepare and less expensive than phthalocyanine complexes and which are generally more stable in the cell environment. These catalysts include certain macrocyclic complexes of Schiff's base prepared by the reaction of an aldehyde with a primary diamine. The preferred embodiments include mononuclear metal macrocyclic complexes made from salicylaldehyde and o-phenylenediamine and binuclear metal macrocyclic complexes of 5-methyl isophthalaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopropane.

High rate metal oxyhalide cells

Anode passivation and premature cell failure associated with anode deterioration due to corrosion has been greatly reduced in Li/SOCl.sub.2 cells by the addition of small amounts of tetracarboxylated metal macrocyclic complexes such as cobalt tetracarboxylated phenylporphyrin (CoTCPP) or cobalt tetracarboxylated phthalocyanine (CoTCPC) to the electrolyte.

Electrochemical cell having improved active life

Certain solid organic depolarizers are disclosed for use in non-aqueous active metal cells which allow such cells to achieve both high voltage and high capacity with greater enhanced stability. The depolarizers include halogen adducts of triethylenediamine, also known as 1,4 diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane such as N,N'-tetrachloro triethylenediamine.

Halogenated organic solid depolarizer

A class of improved catalysts for use in high-rate active-metal non-aqueous cells which show excellent performance enhancing properties are disclosed. These comprise a class of metal porphyrin complexes which catalyze the electrochemical reduction of oxyhalides. The preferred porphyrin compounds include tetraphenyl porphyrin (TPP) and tetramethoxyphenyl porphyrin (TMPP). The preferred complexed metals are cobalt and iron yielding (CoTPP), (FeTPP), CoTMPP) and (FeTMPP), respectively. A polymeric form of TPP complexed with cobalt (CoTPP)n or iron (FeTPP)n is extremely insoluble in the typical Li/SOCl.sub.2 cell electrolyte and may be used very successfully in active cell configurations is also disclosed.

Problems associated with voltage reversal hazards in high energy density non-aqueous electrochemical cells are prevented for all except extremely high discharge rates by the provision of a safety separator which is sufficiently porous to allow normal cell operation in the forward direction but which prevents voltage reversal in all but the most extreme cases. The separator may take the form of a thin sheet of ceramic material which need not contact either the anode or the cathode but which forms an ion-permeable mechanical barrier separating the electrodes while allowing normal cell operation.

Reversal resistant non-aqueous electrochemical cell

An organic cathode depolarizer for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell system having an active metal anode, a cathode and a non-aqueous electrolyte is disclosed which is represented by the formula ##STR1## where R is a group selected from those consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, phenyl or phenoxy groups and where X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are halogens.

Metal-organic liquid depolarizer electrochemical cell

An electrochemical cell with a lithium anode, an electrolyte solution comprising an electrolyte salt dissolved in sulfuryl chloride and a cathode doped with a macrocyclic complex of a transition metal such as CoPc, FePc, or (CoPc).sub.n.

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Glenside, PA, United States of America

Narayan Doddapaneni