Porosity of the cathode during the discharge of SOCl2/Li batteries - I. Industrial cathodes

During the discharge of Li/SOCl2 batteries, the morphology of the cathode ( mainly compacted conductive carbon black) is modified by two phenomena prod ucing opposite effects. LiCl precipitates in the porosity of the cathode re ducing the pore volume. The electrode swells increasing the pore volume. It is difficult to identify the contribution of both phenomena. It was shown by mercury porosimetry that LiCl deposits mainly at the entrance of the por es with diameter higher than 200 nm (pore constrictions); the pore size dis tribution shifts to smaller pores centered on 50 nm. Later, LiCl deposits i n narrow mesopores and supermicropores. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.