LITHIUM DEPOSITION IN PRISMATIC LITHIUM CELLS DURING INTERMITTENT DISCHARGE

Lithium deposition on the case of case negative primary lithium cells can be induced by high rate intermittent discharge. A technique was developed to measure the current between the anode and case during discharge and subsequent relaxation of the cell. The anode to case current was integrated vs. time to obtain charge which was then correlated with lithium deposition. The mechanism for lithium deposition was investigated by inducing inhomogeneous discharge of cathodes. This resulted in lithium deposition suggesting that inhomogeneous discharge of cathodes may be responsible for lithium deposition in cells under intermittent high rate discharge.