2-ELECTRON OXIDATION OF COBALT PHTHALOCYANINES BY THIONYL CHLORIDE - IMPLICATIONS FOR LITHIUM THIONYL CHLORIDE BATTERIES

Cyclic voltammetry, DPV, and electronic spectroscopy are used to study the reaction between thionyl chloride and cobalt phthalocyanine. SOCl2 reacts with [Co1TnPc(2−)]− and CoIITnPc(2−) to give two-electron-oxidized species. Implications for Li/SOCl2 batteries are discussed. Thionyl chloride also forms a SOCl2 monoadduct with CoIITnPc(2−). Driving forces (ΔE values) have been calculated for CoTnPc comproportionation and CoTnPc + SOCl2 reactions. Rest potential measurements of a Li/SOCl2 cell show that addition of A1C13 stabilizes the LiCl product as LiAlCl4. A catalytic two-electron mechanism is indicated for the reduction of thionyl chloride in a Li/SOCl2/(CoTnPc,C) battery. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.