Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of increasing the cycle life of rechargeable battery with a negative electrode (anode) made of lithium or lithium-containing alloys and electrolyte/salt solution which comprises one or more non-aqueous organic solvents and one or more lithium salts, the method comprising adding to the electrolyte/salt solution a lithium dendrite scavenging additive in an amount sufficient that a rate of lithium dendrite formation is equal to or lower than a rate of lithium dissolution occurring due to interaction with the dendrite scavenging additive dissolved in the electrolyte.
Abstract:
The invention provides for a method of discharging a chemical source of electric energy in two stages. The chemical source of electric energy comprises a positive electrode (cathode) including sulphur or sulphur-based organic compounds, sulphur-based polymeric compounds or sulphur-based inorganic compounds as a depolarizer, a negative electrode (anode) made of metallic lithium or lithium-containing alloys, and an electrolyte comprising a solution of at least one salt in at least one aprotic solvent. The method comprises the steps of configuring the chemical source of electric energy to generate soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte during a first stage of a two stage discharge process, and selecting the quantity of sulphur in the depolariser and the volume of electrolyte in a way that after the first stage discharge of the cathode, the concentration of the soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte is at least seventy percent (70%) of a saturation concentration of the polysulphides in the electrolyte.
Abstract:
There are disclosed electrolytes comprising solutions of lithium salts with large anions in polar aprotic solvents with a particular concentration of background salts. The concentration of the background salts is selected to be equal or close to the concentration of a saturated solution of these salts in the aprotic solvents used. The electrolytes disclosed can be used in chemical sources of electric energy such as secondary (rechargeable) cells and batteries comprising sulphur-based positive active materials. The use of such electrolytes increases cycling efficiency and cycle life of the cells and batteries.