The research strategy for the selection of lithium coronand electrolyt
es which may be relevant to battery technology is described. Particula
r emphasis is placed on the solution thermochemical behaviour of lithi
um and lithium coronand electrolytes in acetonitrile, propylene carbon
ate and tetrahydrofuran. Enthalpies of coordination referred to reacta
nts and products in their pure physical state are used in combination
with corresponding solution data for the host, the guest and the resul
ting complex to derive for the first time the enthalpies of complexati
on of lithium and crown ethers in low permittivity media. The implicat
ion of thermodynamic studies on the conductance behaviour of lithium a
nd lithium coronand electrolytes in propylene carbonate is quantitativ
ely demonstrated in the limiting molar conductivities of these electro
lytes in this solvent.