Lithium Primary Cells
A method for treating a cathode electrode assembly. The method includes providing an electrode including iron disulfide and contacting the electrode with a solution including acid to remove impurities from the electrode. The electrode may then be dried under various conditions. The moisture content of the electrode after drying may be less than about 2500 ppm.
1 . A method for treating a cathode electrode assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an electrode comprising iron disulfide;
contacting the electrode with a solution comprising acid in a manner so as to remove impurities from the electrode; and
drying the electrode under conditions that result in a electrode moisture content of less than about 2500 ppm.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said solution comprising acid is selected from the group consisting of: organic acid, inorganic acid, and mixtures thereof.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said solution comprising acid is selected from the group consisting of: sulfuric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, and mixtures thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said solution comprising acid comprises a pH value of about 6.5 or lower.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is contacted with said solution comprising acid in combination with ultrasonic waves at a frequency between about 38 kHz and about 50 kHz.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is dried at a temperature between about 190° C. and about 350° C.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is dried under vacuum.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is dried in an inert atmosphere.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is dried in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of: Ar, N 2 , and mixtures thereof.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is further contacted with a neutralizing solution with a pH value of about 6.5 or greater so as to adjust the pH value of the electrode.
11 . The method of claim 1 where the neutralizing solution is selected from the group consisting of: H 2 O, NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ca(OH) 2 , NH 4 OH, and mixtures thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 where the electrode is contacted with a neutralizing solution at a temperature of at least about 16° C.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is contacted with said neutralizing solution in combination with ultrasonic waves at a frequency between about 38 kHz and about 50 kHz.
14 . A battery having an electrode according to claim 1 .
15 . A method for treating a cathode electrode material, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an electrode material comprising iron disulfide;
contacting the electrode material with a solution comprising acid in a manner so as to remove impurities from the material; and
drying the electrode material under conditions that result in a electrode material moisture content of less than about 10,000 ppm.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein said solution comprising acid is selected from the group consisting of: organic acid, inorganic acid, and mixtures thereof.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein said solution comprising acid is selected from the group consisting of: sulfuric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, and mixtures thereof.
18 . The method of claim 15 wherein said solution comprising acid comprises a pH value of about 6.5 or lower.
19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is contacted with said solution comprising acid in combination with ultrasonic waves at a frequency between about 38 kHz and about 50 kHz.
20 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is dried at a temperature between about 50° C. and about 350° C.
21 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is dried under vacuum.
22 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is dried in an inert atmosphere.
23 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is dried in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of: Ar, N 2 , and mixtures thereof.
24 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is further contacted with a neutralizing solution with a pH value of about 6.5 or greater so as to adjust the pH value of the material.
25 . The method of claim 15 where the neutralizing solution is selected from the group consisting of: H 2 O, NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ca(OH) 2 , NH 4 OH, and mixtures thereof.
26 . The method of claim 15 where the neutralizing solution is at a temperature of at least about 16° C.
27 . The method of claim 15 wherein the electrode material is contacted with said neutralizing solution in combination with ultrasonic waves at a frequency between about 38 kHz and about 50 kHz.
28 . A battery having a cathode electrode material according to claim 15 .