1.5-3 V LITHIUM BATTERIES WITH OVERCHARGE PROTECTION
Rechargeable, non-aqueous lithium batteries which contain, as active anode material, either lithium metal or a lithium alloy, an active cathode material with a redox potential in the range of between 1.5 and 3.4 V vs. Li/Li + and lithium rhodanide (LiSCN) as electrolyte component.
1 .- 15 . (canceled)
16 . A lithium battery comprising:
lithium metal or a lithium alloy as an active anode material; and
a material having a redox potential in the range between 1.5 and 3.4 V vs. Li/Li + as an active cathode material; and
lithium rhodanide as an electrolyte;
wherein the lithium battery is rechargeable and nonaqueous.
17 . The rechargeable nonaqueous lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein powdered lithium metal or a powdered lithium alloy which may be present in a compacted form is included as the active anode material.
18 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the cathode material is selected from the group consisting of CF x , a transition metal oxide, a transition metal sulfide, a transition metal fluoride, a transition metal oxyfluoride, an organic redox-active compound, sulfur and selenium.
19 . The lithium battery according to claim 18 , wherein the cathode material is selected from the group consisting of CF x , MnO 2 , V 2 O 5 , V 6 O 13 , FeOF, FeF 3 , FeF 2 and S.
20 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte is in a liquid, gelatinous or solid state at room temperature.
21 . The lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein the electrolyte contains organic aprotic solvents selected from the group consisting of a cyclic ether, an acyclic ether, a polyether, a nitrile, a lactone, a carbonic acid ester and an ionic liquid.
22 . The lithium battery according to claim 21 , wherein the electrolyte contains at least one organic aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of tetrahydropyran, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, acetonitrile, adiponitrile, malodinitrile, glutaronitrile, y-butyrolactone and an imidazolium salt.
23 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte contains LiSCN and at least one additional conductive salt.
24 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the additional conductive salt is selected from the group consisting of LiPF 6 , a lithium fluoroalkyl phosphate, LiBF 4 , an imide salt, LiOSO 2 CF 3 , a methide salt, LiClO 4 , a lithium chelatoborate, a lithium fluorochelatoborate, a lithium chelatophosphate, a lithium fluorochelatophosphate and a lithium halide.
25 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one organic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile and polyvinylidene fluoride.
26 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the LiSCN is present in the electrolyte in a concentration of 0.01 to 15 wt %.
27 . The lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein the LiSCN is present in the electrolyte in a concentration of 1 to 10 wt %.
28 . An electrolyte for use in the lithium battery according to claim 16 , wherein lithium rhodanide is present as the electrolyte component.
29 . The electrolyte according to claim 28 , wherein the LiSCN is present in the electrolyte in a concentration of 0.01 to 15 wt %.
30 . A battery electrolyte comprising LiSCN as a redox shuttle compound.