FLUOROCARBON-CLOTH CATHODE FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

The advantages of fluorocarbon-cloth cathodes as compared with fluoroc arbon-powder cathodes are discussed. The effect of X-ray-structural pa rameters and macrostructure of initial carbon cloths on the characteri stics of fluorocarbon cloths produced on their basis and the lithium-f luorocarbon cell performance are studied. The cell's performance is in vestigated as a function of the thickness of cloths with different mac rostructures. The reasons of a voltage dip at fluorocarbon-lithium cel l starting are considered. The voltage dip in the case of the fluoroca rbon-cloth cathodes is shown to be caused by their high ohmic resistan ce, which limits the reaction zone, and the subsequent expansion of th e working area as the conducting carbon forms during discharge. To imp rove the discharge conditions, it is proposed to treat fluorocarbon cl oths with colloidal graphite that has a high specific surface area. Th e effects of the surface state and amount of graphite on the start-up and discharge characteristics of the cells are studied.