MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SECONDARY BATTERIES

A review is presented of the materials problems in secondary battery systems that show promise for use as power sources for vehicle propulsion and as stationary energy storage devices for utility application. Materials for ambient-temperature batteries are reviewed briefly, and those for two advanced systems, namely, sodium/sulfur and lithium/metal sul-fide, are described more fully. In both systems, the severe corrosiveness of the cell en-vironment, the high temperature of operation and the requirements of low cost and weight place demanding restrictions on materials of construction. Materials development efforts in Argonne National Laboratory's lithium/metal sulfide battery program are discussed in terms of the individual cell components (electrical feedthroughs, electrode separators, electrode current collectors and cell housings). The materials selection process is de-scribed, experimental data on compatibility tests are presented, and the current status of the materials development effort is summarized. © 1978 American Society for Metals and the Metallurgical Society of AIME.